I 

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UUUr 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


JACK  HARKA WAY'S 


ADVENTURES 


IN   AMERICA  AND   CUBA 


BEING  A  CONTINUATION  OF 


ADVENTURES  AROUND  THE  WORLE 


BY 


BRACEBRIDGE  HEMYNG 


CHICAGO: 

M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  Co. 


M.  A.    DON  OH  U  E  &.  COMPANY 

PRINTERS  AND    BINDERS 

4O7.429    DEARBORN    STREET 

CH  ICAGO 


j 
J 


JACK  HARKAWAY  IN  AMERICA 
AND  CUBA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  END  OF  THE  SCENE. 

IT  was  after  a  kind  of  dreamy  stupor  had  worn  off,  that 
our  hero  at  length  opened  his  eyes. 

He  felt  stronger,  and  able  to  remember  all  that  had 
occurred,  but  a  raging  thirst  devoured  him. 

He  would  have  given  the  world,  if  he  had  had  it,  for 
the  smallest  drink  of  water. 

The  first  object  on  which  his  eye  rested  was  the  hap- 
less negro,  lying  on  the  grass  in  a  pool  of  crimson  gore. 

" The  wretches  have  murdered  poor  Monday,"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  a  cry  of  horror. 

"No,  dey  ain't,  Massa  Jack,  not  jess  yet/'  replied  the 
wounded  man,  faintly,  as  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  looked 
up  dimly  at  the  sound  of  the  well-known  voice. 

"  But  you  are  bleeding,"  said  Jack,  pityingly. 

"Yes,  him  tink  him  am,"  was  the  reply  ;  "him  catch 
de  bullet  in  him  ribs  somewheres  ;  but  never  mind  that. 
How  you  do  yourself,  Massa  Jack  ?  " 

"I'm  all  right,  if  I  could  only  untie  my  arms  and  feet," 
Jack  replied  ! 

"Tank  God  for  dat?"  fervently  exclaimed  Monday. 
"This  chile  soon  get  you  down." 

The  staunch  Limbian  made  an  effort  to  rise. 

But  the  effort  was  in  vain,  and  he  sank  down  with  a 
suppressed  groan. 

"It  no  good,  Massa  Jack  ;  him  got  more  dan  him  can 
carry  dis  time." 

And  with  this  faint  attempt  at  a  joke,  he  fell  back  again 
upon  the  greensward  insensible. 


T.TRRARV 


4  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Jack  looked  down  upon  his  faithful  friend  with  intense 
commiseration. 

It  was  the  only  thing  he  could  do. 

"Poor  Monday  will  die  from  loss  of  blood,"  he  mur- 
mured, anxiously,  "and  I  fastened  up  here  like  this.  If 
I  could  only '' 

He  broke  of  suddenly,  as  a  faint  chirp  caught  his^  ear. 

It  was  the  poor  monkey,  who  was  just  beginning  to 
have  a  dim  sort  of  consciousness  that  he  was  alive. 

Presently  he  sat  up  and  looked  round  him. 

Then  he  rubbed  his  head  with  his  paw. 

After  which  he  shook  it — probably  to  be  sure  his  brains 
were  still  inside. 

Having  done  this,  he  threw  several  somersaults  and 
flipflaps. 

After  which,  having  caught  a  flea,  he  seemed  to  be 
quite  restored 

Our  hero  watched  his  coming  to  with  much  interest, 
and  then  he  cried — 

"Nero,  old  man,  I  am  up  here." 

Nero  looked  up  at  the  bough  with  a  lively  chirp,  and 
grinned  and  nodded  as  though  he  was  quite  pleased  to 
see  his  young  master  again. 

"Come  up,  old  fellow,"  continued  Jack. 

The  monkey  did  not  scamper  away  as  he  had  done 
before,  but  instantly  swung  himself  up  to  the  branch  on 
which  our  hero  lay  extended,  and  sat  looking  at  him 
seriously. 

"I'm  in  a  fix,  old  boy,"  said  Jack  to  his  dumb  com- 
panion, "  and  I  want  you  to  get  me  out  of  it." 

As  he  spoke,  he  directed  Nero's  attention,  as  well  as  he 
could,  to  his  bound  arms. 

The  monkey  seemed  to  understand  him  perfectly. 

In  an  instant  he  was  sitting  astride  his  master,  picking 
at  the  knots  with  all  his  might. 

In  less  than  a  minute  our  hero  felt  the  pressure  removed 
from  his  arms. 

Nero  had  untied  the  napkin,  and  was  now  flourishing 
it  triumphantly  in  his  paw. 

Jack,  having  recovered  the  use  of  his  hands,  quickly 
took  out  his  knife  and  severed  the  cords  that  b^und  his 
feet. 

He  was  once  more  free. 


"  Now  for  poor  Monday,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  dropped 
from  the  branch. 

His  limbs  were  so  stiff  and  cramped  from  the  long  con- 
tinued pressure  they  had  undergone  that  he  could  scarcely 
support  himself 

It  was  with  difficulty  he  could  even  reach  his  wounded 
friend. 

But  having  done  so,  he  knelt  down  and  raised  his  head 
in  his  arms. 

"Monday,  Monday — dear  old  fellow!  speak  to  me," 
entreated  young  Jack. 

The  negro  slowly  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Him  can't  say  noting,  Massa  Jack,  now,  but  God 
bless  you  !  "  he  gasped,  faintly,  and  then  closed  his  eyes 
again. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  him  ? "  thought  our  hero.  "  If  I 
only  had  some  water,  or  some  rum." 

Monday  caught  the  word,  and  he  murmured,  almost 
audibly — 

"Rum — lilly  drop." 

Alas  !  there  was  neither  one  nor  the  other,  and  Jack 
was  almost  fainting  for  a  draught  himself. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 

They  were  some  distance  from  home,  our  hero  not  in 
very  good  walking  condition,  Monday  unable  to  walk  at 
all,  Nero — the  only  one  who  seemed  quite  himself — un- 
able to  take  a  message. 

"  Help  must  be  got  somehow,  "soliloquised  Jack  ;  "and 
yet,  if  I  leave  this  poor  fellow  in  this  state,  he'll  bleed  to 
death  before  I  can  get  back,  and  that  would  be  horrible." 

As  the  only  thing  he  could  do,  our  hero  endeavoured  to 
staunch  the  blood  that  oozed  from  Monday's  side  with  the 
napkin. 

But  it  was  soaked  through  and  through  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. 

"I  must  chance  it,  and  go  for  help,"  he  exclaimed, 
desperately,  as  he  rose  to  his  feet.  "Come  on,  Nero  ;  we 
must  be  quick." 

He  took  a  few  hasty  steps,   stopped,  and  returned. 

"Shall  I  go  or  stay"?  "  he  asked  himself,  irresolutely, 
as  he  looked  down  at  the  unconscious  form. 

"  If  I  go,"  he  meditated,  "  it  may  save  his  life  ;  if  I  stay, 
he's  sure  to  die.  My  mind's  made  up  :  I'll  go." 


6  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Our  hero,  having  uttered  these  words,  was  about  to 
depart  when,  to  his  surprise,  Monday  checked  him. 

"  Don't  go,  Massa  Jack,"  he  said,  faintly  ;  "him  hear 
de  sound  ob  footsteps  coming." 

Jack  started  at  these  words,  and  look  anxiously  around. 

If  his  enemies  should  be  returning  ! 

But  he  neither  saw  nor  heard  any  thing. 

"I  think  you  are  mistaken,  old  fellow,"  he  said,  kindly. 

"No,  him  not,  Massa  Jack,"  returned  Monday,  con- 
fidently ;  "him  know  de  steps." 

The  black's  acute  ear,  as  he  lay  on  the  ground,  had 
detected  sounds  at  a  distance,  which  to  our  hero's  less 
practised  sense  were  perfectly  inaudible. 

"  You  say  you  know  the  steps,"  asked  Jack,  anxiously  ; 
"  whose  are  they  ? " 

"  Dey  Sunday's  steps,"  replied  the  negro. 

"Sunday?  Hurrah  I  "  cried  our  hero ;"  hurrah  !  Go 
and  meet  him,  Nero." 

He  pointed  as  he  spoke,  and  away  started  the  monkey. 

Monday  proved  to  be  perfectly  right. 

In  less  than  two  minutes  the  voice  of  the  American 
was  heard  shouting — 

"Whar  you  two  got  to.  eh?  No  good  hiding  out  ob 
de  way  ;  dis  chile  sure  to  find  you,  yah,  yah  !  " 

A  few  moments  more,  and  Sunday,  with  Nero  hopping 
along  at  his  side,  came  in  sight- 
Young  Jack  uttered  a  cry  of  joy,  and  rushed  forward  to 
meet  him. 

"Well,  Massa  Jack,  how  de  big  spree  getting  on,  eh?" 
asked  Sunday,  with  a  broad  grin  oi>  his  black  face,  as 
they  reached  each  other. 

"Big  spree?" 

"  Him  mean  debig  spree  you  and  Monday  goin  to  hab 
togeder.  Am  it  ober  yet  ?  " 

But  the  cheerful  expression  rapidly  died  out  of  his  face 
as  our  hero  replied,  seriously — 

"Yes;  the  'big  spree/  as  you  call  it,  is  all  over,  and 
unless  you  move  yourself  quickly,  it's  very  likely  you'll 
be  just  in  time  to  come  in  at  the  death." 

"  Death,  massa,"  almost  gasped  Sunday.  "  Who  going 
to  die  ? " 

"Come  and  see,"  replied  young  Jack,  as  he  began  to 
retrace  his  steps. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  7 

Sunday  followed. 

A  very  few  yards  brought  them  to  where  the  wounded 
Monday  was  lying. 

"There  !  "  said  our  hero,  as  he  pointed  to  him. 

"What — brudder  Monday!"  exclaimed  the  American, 
in  remorseful  accents,  as  he  looked  down  upon  his  dis- 
abled comrade. 

The  latter  opened  his  eyes,  and  looked  up  at  him  feebly. 

It  was  too  much  for  Sunday. 

He  burst  at  once  into  a  flood  of  penitential  tears,  and 
fell  on  his  knees  by  his  side. 

"Forgib  me,  mis'rable  sinner  dat  lam,"  he  howled, 
lamentably;  "  forgib  me  for  locking  yah  up  in  de  coal 
cellar ;  him  didn't  mean  to  do  it,  s'elp  him  golly,  him 
didn't." 

"I  forgib  yah,"  murmured  Monday.  "  Hab  yah  got 
lilly  drop  ob  rum  ?  " 

"Him  got  quart  bottle  full  in  the  basket,"  returned 
Sunday. 

The  next  moment  the  bottle  was  out  and  the  mouth 
applied  to  the  lips  of  the  wounded  man,  who  sucked  at  it 
greedily. 

It  seemed  to  agree  with  him  very  well. 

"  Have  you  got  any  water  in  that  basket  ? "  asked  our 
hero  presently. 

"  Lots,  Massa  Jack,"  replied  Sunday,  as  he  drew  forth 
a  stone  jar. 

Our  hero  pounced  upon  it  like  a  young  tiger,  and  drank 
till  he  could  drink  no  longer. 

We  need  not  prolong  this  memorable  scene. 

Young  Jack,  with  Sunday  supporting  our  old  friend 
Monday,  reached  the  hotel  late  that  night. 

Monday  was  at  once  put  to  bed,  and  his  wounds  at- 
tended to. 

There  was  no  sleep  for  John  Harkaway,  senior,  that 
night  when  he  heard  the  hair-breadth  escape  of  his  boy 
from  the  two  villains,  Hunston  and  Toro. 


JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


CHAPTER  IL 

THE  day — the  happy  day — was  fixed. 

Mr.  Mole  would  fain  have  crept  off  to  church  on  the 
extrem  ;  quiet. 

But   iarvey  would  not  hear  of  this. 

"  N<  ,  no,  Mr.  Mole, "he  said,  "you  have  done  a  noble 
action  you  have  shown  yourself  superior  to  all  worldly 
weakn<  .'.ses,  and  we  are  not  going  to  sneak  along  now  as 
if  we  were  doing  something  to  be  ashamed  of.  You  will 
soon  have  your  third  wife,  and  that  alone  shows  you  have 
great  courage." 

'  Of  course,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 
'And  we  are  proud  of  you." 
'  Are  you  ?  " 

Yes,  I  think  it  is  a  noble  action  ;  one  to  be  proud  of." 
Is  it  ? " 

'Undoubtedly,  Mr.  Mole,"  added  Harvey,  with  a  look 
full  of  admiration  at  the  tutor.  "I  regard  you  as  reverent 
folks  must  have  regarded  the  martyrs  who  sacrificed 
themselves  at  the  stake  for  their  principles." 

Mr.  Mole  winced  again. 

"  You  sacrifice  yourself,"  concluded  Dick. 

"Don't,  Harvey,  don't." 

"I  won't  if  you  wish  it,  but  it's  true." 

"You  mean  well  and  kindly,  I  know,"  said  Mr.   Mole. 

"  I  do,"  returned  Dick. 

"Of  course,  but  you  have  precious  uncomfortable  ways 
of  expressing  yourself  at  times." 

"  Dear  me,  I'm  very  sorry  to  hear  that  But  you  must 
get  ready  to  meet  the  bride.  Here's  your  new  coat." 

"  New  coat !" 

"Yes,  I  ordered  one  for  you,  for  I  supposed  that  you 
wouldn't  care  to  be  troubled  by  all  these  little  details  at 
such  a  time." 

When  Mr.  Mole  caught  sight  of  the  garment,  his  whole 
belief  in  Dick  Harvey's  seriousness  was  shattered. 

"A  bright  blue  coat  with  gilt  buttons,  and  a  green  vel- 
•'•et  collar  !  "  he  said ;  "it's  a  mistake." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  9 

"No,"  returned  Harvey,  "  for  here's  the  coat  of  yours 
I  sent  as  the  pattern  garment,  instead  of  bothering  you  to 
get  measured." 

"Do  you  want  to  make  a  laughing  stock  of  me,  Har- 
vey ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

"This  is  the  latest  fashion,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Why,  it  was  getting  old  when  I  was  a  boy,"  said 
Mole  ;  "  the  people  would  take  me  for  some  antiquated 
old  fool." 

"Sir!" 

"A  second  edition  of  Rip  Van  Winkle,  who  had  been 
boxed  up  asleep  for  twenty  years,  while  the  world  was 
going  on." 

"Are  you  aware,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harvey,  in  his  most 
impressive  manner,  "  that  this  was  the  fashion  that  the 
heir  to  the  throne  of  Great  Britain  led  at  the  last  royal 
marriage  in  England?  " 

"Nonsense  !  " 

"It  is  true." 

Mr.  Mole  was  silenced,  and  consented. 

The  wedding  favours  were  something  to  remember, 
being  of  such  abnormal  proportions  that  they  suggested 
reminiscences  of  the  pantomime.  Indeed  they  would  have 
done  credit  to  Dyk  Wynkyn,  if  devised  for  the  nuptial  cere- 
mony of  King  Uglimug  the  Oneth,  or  some  such  imag- 
inary monarch. 

All  Dick's  eloquence  was,  however,  thrown  away  when 
he  endeavoured  to  persuade  Mr.  Mole  to  cut  off  the  trouser 
which  covered  his  wooden  leg,  and  festoon  the  leg  itself 
with  white  satin  ribbons. 

Harkaway  went  to  the  wedding  with  Harvey  in  one 
carriage. 

In  the  next  carriage  followed  the  two  gentlemen  of 
colour,  the  Prince  of  Limbi,  alias  Monday,  and  Caesar  Han^ 
nibal  Augustus  Constantine  Jex,  alias  Sunday. 

Now,  perhaps,  of  the  whole  party  it  was  Sunday  who 
appeared  to  be  the  gayest. 

Indeed,  he  seemed  to  have  some  special  and  secret 
reasons  for  mirth,  for  he  could  with  difficulty  repress  a 
sort  of  incipient  chuckle  the  whole  morning  through,  and 
in  his  efforts  to  drown  the  cachinnations,  he  nearly  swal- 
lowed one  of  his  Berlin  gloves. 


!  0  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

The  size  being  thirteens,  this  would  have  occasioned 
him  some  inconvenience. 

Following  the  two  gentlemen  of  colour  was  another 
carriage — last  not  least. 

In  this  vehicle  sat  young  Jack  and  Nero. 

He  had  purposely  taken  the  last  carriage  in  order  that 
they  might  not  see  him  bring  Nero  out.  Nero  was  in 
gorgeous  array. 

Young  Jack  had  had  a  white  satin  waistcoat  made  for 
him  on  the  sly,  and  a  light  blue  coat,  and  a  new  cocked 

hat  •    , 

And  what  with  his  wedding  favour,  and  a  bouquet  as 
large  as  a  tea-tray,  Nero  was  a  very  prominent  feature  in 
the  procession. 

Let  us  hope  that  no  young  ladies  will  read  this  chapter, 
or  we  fear  that  we  shall  get  severely  handled  by  the  fair 
critics. 

We  have  actually  sketched  roughly  the  appearance  of 
the  bridegroom  and  the  wedding  guests,  even  to  Nero  him- 
self, and'not  a  word  has  been  said  of  the  bride. 

The  blushing  bride  I 

What  would  you  say  to  learn  that  she  looked  the  best  of 
the  party  ? 

Her  wedding  toilet  had  been  the  especial  care  of  Emily 
and  Hilda,  and  every  thing  she  wore  was  simple,  elegant, 
and  in  good  taste. 

There  was  the  orthodox  lace  veil,  which  completely 
hid  her  dusky  face  from  view  ;  and  as  her  figure  was  good, 
many  people  who  saw  her  envied  Mr.  Mole  his  bride. 

Well,  they  might  do  worse,  for  under  her  'black  skin 
there  beat  one  of  the  warmest  and  most  generous  of 
hearts. 

The  ceremony  went  off  very  satisfactorily,  in  spite  of 
the  presence  of  some  high-spirited  coloured  persons  of  ten- 
der years,  who  raised  a  laugh  by  their  antics  at  a  most 
impressive  moment  during  the  service. 

Monday  was  very  fond  of  children,  and  he  had  a 
number  of  infantile  pensioners,  who  joined  the  wedding 
party  in  church  without  receiving  any  special  invite. 

One  of  these  was  a  boy  of  ten  years  of  age,  who  was 
a  most  diverting  young  imp. 
His  name  was  Pompey  Ball. 
Master  Pompey  had  two  intimates  with  him  of  his  own 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  n 

stamp  ;  Julius   Smith   and   his   brother  Pete,  cetat  nine  ; 
besides  a  little  bright-faced  negress  named  Prissy. 

Now  this  juvenile  party  appeared  to  be  greatly  diverted 
by  the  sight  of  the  bridegroom's  timber  toe,  and  their  mirth 
took  such  a  noisy  form  that  Sunday  had  to  be  told  off  to 
keep  them  in  order. 

Imitation  is  the  highest  flattery,  it  has  been  said. 

Surely,  then,  the  wedding  party  must  have  felt  highly 
flattered  in  this  instance,  when  little  Pompey  Ball  per- 
formed in  a  comic  manner  the  nuptial  ceremony  for  Pete 
and  little  Miss  Prissy. 

Pompey 's  mimicry  of  the  clergyman  was  perfect,  and 
little  Pete  stood  on  one  leg,  holding  a  stick  (to  resemble 
Mr.  Mole's  wooden  leg)  with  one  hand,  while  he  gave 
the  other  to  Prissy,  who  looked  as  demure  as  a  bride 
should. 

Sunday  was  mightily  tickled,  but  he  pretended  not  to 
observe  it  until  Julius,  who  could  not  restrain  his  laugh- 
ter, burst  into  a  loud  guffaw  that  startled  the  whole 
party. 

"  How  dare  you,  you  imperent  critters  !  "  said  Sunday, 
suddenly  appearing  to  be  outraged  ;  "  take  dat. " 

And  he  floored  Master  Julius  with  a  slap  on  the  head. 

And  this  abruptly  ended  the  little  niggers'  funny  mim- 
icry of  Mr.  Mole's  nuptials. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Mole  with  his  friends  left  the  church, 
with  his  third  black  wife  lovingly  at  his  side,  looking 
down  with  a  smile  of  admiration  at  his  wooden  leg,  young 
Jack  having,  unknown  to  Mr.  Mole,  turned  up  his  trou- 
sers, and  brought  to  view  the  wooden  leg  bound  round 
with  white  satin  ribbons. 

The  party  had  not  got  far  on  their  journey  home  be- 
fore young  Jack  shouted — 

"  Look  out,  Nero  is  after  you." 

The  next  moment  the  monkey  came  dashing  full  tilt  at 
Mr.  Mole. 

Mr.  Mole,  hearing  the  shouts,  turned  round  as  quickly 
as  any  man  could  who  had  a  wooden  leg  on  one  side  of 
his  body  and  a  dusky  bride  on  the  other. 

Nero  was  close  upon  him,  and  evidently  mistook  Mr. 
Mole's  sudden  turn  for  a  hostile  movement. 

So,  being  unable  to  stop  himself,  the  artful  animal  sud- 
denly darted  between  the  bridegroom's  real  leg  and  his 


12  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

wooden  substitute,   intending  by  this  method  to  get  be- 
hind his  enemy. 

But  Nero  rose  too  suddenly,  and  the  consequence  was 
that  Mr.  Mole  was  thrown  off  his  balance  and  on  his 
back. 

"Murder  !  "  screamed  the  professor ;  "take  the  savage 
brute  away  !  It  is  trying  to  steal  my  wooden  leg." 

"You  had  better  get  up  and  fight,  Mr.  Mole,"  said 
young  Jack,  "  or  Nero  will  run  away  with  Mrs.  Mole." 

But  Nero,  however,  was  busy. 

The  gay  ribbon  with  which  Mr.  Mole's  timber  prop  had 
been  decorated  caught  the  animal's  attention,  and  he  re- 
solved to  secure  it  as  a  trophy  of  victory. 

Nero's  ringers  or  claws  quickly  untied  the  knot,  and 
then,  with  a  shrill  squeal  of  triumph,  he  danced  round  his 
fallen  foe,  waving  the  bit  of  silk  in  the  air,  and  finishing 
by  hugging  the  bride  as  though  he  meant  kissing  her. 

Some  of  the  others,  who  were  getting  rather  anxious 
about  the  matter  of  refreshments,  deemed  it  time  to  in- 
terfere, so  Mr.  Mole  was  at  once  set  up  on  his  feet. 

Nero  would  not  part  with  the  ribbon,  which  he  fastened 
round  his  own  leg,  and  thus  decorated,  followed  the 
bridal  procession. 

And  when  they  were  safe  home,  there  was  the  wedding 
breakfast,  and  the  speeches,  which  was  the  occasion  for 
Mr.  Mole  to  distinguish  himself,  which  he  did. 

On  this  one  occasion,  however,  Mr.  Mole  was  com- 
paratively moderate  in  his  cups,  and  when  the  rest  were 
at  the  height  of  their  merriment,  he  quietly  withdrew  with 
his  bride. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  DUEL — MR.  MOLE  TO  THE  RESCUE. 

BETWEEN  the  darkies,  Sunday  and  Monday,  there  really 
existed  a  very  strong  feeling  of  affection,  but  which,  how- 
ever, they  had  their  own  peculiar  manner  of  exhibiting. 

Their  attachment  partook  somewhat  of  the  cat  and  dog- 
quality. 

^  Like  those  interesting  domestic  animals  they  were  some- 
times all  fun  and  frolic  one  with  the  other. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  13 

At  others  they  might  be  seen  snapping  and  snarl- 
ing, as  though  they  were  going  to  bite  off  each  other's 
noses. 

One  morning  they  had  got  into  one  of  their  arguments. 
But  this  time  it  was  neither  one  of  nationality  nor  of 
politics. 

It  was  entirely  a  personal  matter. 

The  question  started  being — 

Which  of  the  two  had  rendered  the  most  signal  service 
on  the  eventful  day  when  the  "big  spree"  came  off  in 
the  wood  ? 

Monday  declared   "he  had  all  to  nuffin." 

Sunday  protested  that  "what  he  did  licked  Monday 
holler." 

It  seemed  likely  to  prove  a  stiffish  subject. 

Our  hero  came  up  almost  at  the  commencement  of  the 
discussion. 

"Ah,  here  Massa  Jack,"  cried  Monday;  "he  settle  de 
matter  offhand." 

"  Ob  course  he  will,"  exclaimed  Sunday  ;  "won't  you, 
Massa  Jack?  " 

"  Certainly  I  will,"  Jack  replied  ;   "  what  is  it  ?  " 

"We  want  to  know  who  war  de  bess  man  on  de  day 
we  had  big  fight  in  de  wood,"  exclaimed  Monday. 

' '  I  war, "  cried  Sunday. 

"No,  I  war,"  insisted  Monday;  "  warn't  I,  Massa 
Jack  ?  " 

"You  were  both  the  best,"  answered  our  hero,  with  a 
laugh. 

"No,  dat  not  right,  Massa  Jack,"  returned  Monday, 
shaking  his  head  profoundly ;  "  can't  both  be  bess ;  one 
must  be  better  dan  de  oder." 

"Ob  course,"  exclaimed  Sunday,  triumphantly,  stick- 
ing out  his  chest ;  "dat  me  ;  I'm  de  one.  'Merican  nig- 
ger lick  all  de  oder  niggers  in  creation  into  fits." 

*'  No,  you  jess  wrong  ;  you  de  oder." 

"Boo!  " 

"Yah!" 

At  this  point  of  the  argument  the  two  disputants  craned 
their  necks  till  their  noses  touched,  and  made  horrible 
grimaces  at  each  other. 

"What  you  mean  let  dose  men  catch  hold  and  nearly 
kill  Massa  Jack,  eh  ?  "  demanded  Sunday  at  length. 


j  4  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Dat  your  fault  altogether,  you  black  tief !  "  answered 
Monday. 

"It  dam  lie,  it  yours,  sar." 

"  How  you  make  dat  out,  sar  ?  " 

"  You  ought  to  have  looked  arter  him." 

"Stop  a  minit,  dar  ;  didn't  you  lock  dis  child  up  in  de 
coal  cellar  ?  Answer  dat. " 

"Well,  what  if  him  did  ?" 

"Why,  how  de  debbil  could  him  look  arter  Massa 
Jack  same  time  him  locked  up  in  de  coal  cellar,  you  big 
pump  ? " 

Monday  chuckled  intensely  as  he  put  this  perplexing 
question. 

His  opponent,  not  being  prepared  with  an  answer,  did 
not  attempt  any.  He  only  growled — 

"De  coal  cellar  de  bess  place  for  ugly  black  nigger  like 
you  ;  if  you  stop  dere,  you'd  not  bin  shot." 

"If  this  child  bin  'longside  Massa  Jack,  he  not  bin  tied 
up  by  de  heels/'  retorted  Monday. 

"Bah!  you  no  good!  What  you  done  when  you  lie 
on  your  back  with  you  big  mouth  open,  if  I  no  gib  you 
the  rum,  eh  ?  " 

"Him  done  widout,  you  ugly  nigger." 

"  How  you  get  out  ob  the  wood  if  this  child  not  carry 
you  home  on  him  back  ? " 

"  Him  stop  where  him  was,  of  course, "replied  Monday. 

"And  kick  de  bucket,"  sneered  Sunday. 

"Him  kick  you  in  a  minit,  if  you  talk  like  dat  "  ex- 
claimed Monday,  irritably.  * 

"Kick  me,  you  ugly  black  pudd'n  ? " 

"Yes,  kick  you,  you  imperent  tief!  " 

"  What  you  mean  call  dis  child  imperent  tief,  eh,  sar  ?  " 

"What  you  mean,  call  me  ugly  black  pudd'n,  eh,  sar?  " 

"  Bah  ! " 

"Boo!" 

Once  more  the  irritated  negroes  grinned  in  each  other's 
faces. 

Young  Jack  came  between  them. 

"You're  a  longtime  settling  this  matter,"  he  said. 

"Dat  dam  niggar  dere  insult  me,  Massa  Jack,"  ex- 
claimed Monday  vehemently,  as  he  pointed  to  his  com- 
rade. 

"  So  he  did,"  assented  our  hero  ;   "  I'm  a  witness." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  15 

"  Dat  dam  niggar  dere  insult  me  too, "  cried  Sunday, 
with  equal  intensity,  pointing  in  his  turn. 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  admitted  the  young  referee,  "  I'm  a 
witness  to  that  also.  You  have  both  grossly  insulted  each 
other." 

At  this  consoling  piece  of  information  the  disputants 
ground  their  teeth  and  growled  at  each  other. 

"There's  only  one  thing  to  be  done  to  make  things 
straight,"  continued  our  hero,  in  a  magisterial  manner. 

"War  dat,  Massa  Jack?"  asked  his  sable  listeners, 
eagerly. 

"  You  must  have  satisfaction,"  said  Jack,  seriously. 

"  Dat's  it ;  hab  sat'msfacshun,"  echoed  the  niggers. 

"Call  each  other  out." 

' '  Dat  de  sort ;  call  each  oder  out ! " 

"Fight  a  duel!" 

"Golly!  dat  proper!  F;.£n>  am  doo-el !  "  exclaimed 
the  enthusiastic  opponents. 

"With  pistols." 

"Wid  pistols!" 

"Loaded." 

"Gorra,  yes;  loaded." 

"To  the  muzzle." 

"Ob  course  ;  to  de  muzzle." 

"With  powder  and  bullets." 

"  Dat  de  sort ;  powder  and  lots  of  bullets." 

"Then,  when  you've  blown  each  other  to  bits,  you'll 
be  satisfied  ?  "  said  our  hero,  rather  solemnly. 

"Perfec'ly,  Massa  Jack,"  replied  Sunday. 

"  Yes,  Massa  Jack  ;  when  we  hab  blown  each  other  to 
bits,  we  shall  be  satisfied,"  cried  Monday.  "But  whar 
de  poppers  to  come  from  ?  " 

"And  de  powder  and  de  bullets?  "  joined  in  Sunday. 

' '  I'll  provide  every  thing, "  replied  Jack.  "  In  an  hour's 
time  all  will  be  ready.  Meet  me  on  this  sppt. " 

With  these  words  they  parted. 

The  two  antagonists  exulting  in  the  joyful  anticipation 
of  annihilating  each  other. 

Young  Jack  rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of  the  fun  he  was 
going  to  have. 

Our  hero  commenced  his  preparations  by  borrowing 
(without  asking,  by-the-bye)  a  splendid  pair  of  his  dad's 
six-barrelled  revolvers. 


,6  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Together  with  a  powder  flask,  and  a  bag  in  which  to 
hold  the  bullets  and  a  box  of  caps. 

He  then  procured  a  couple  of  bullock's  bladders,  into 
each  of  which  he  put  a  handful  of  peas  to  make  them  rat- 
tle well,  and  a  quantity  of  flour — to  add  to  the  general 
effect  in  the  event  of  their  bursting. 

These  he  inflated,  and  having  tied  them  on  to  the  ends 
of  two  sticks,  he  gave  them  a  coating  of  black  lead. 

Next  he  mixed  some  dough,  and  made  a  quantity  of 
bullets  out  of  this  material,  which  he  baked  on  the  hob, 
giving  each  one  a  rub  with  the  black  lead  tc  give  it  a  nat- 
ural appearance. 

His  warlike  preparations  being  complete,  his  active 
mind  suggested  a  plan  by  which  his  worthy  tutor,  Mr. 
Mole,  should  participate  in  the  coming  entertainment. 

He  accordingly  sat  down  and  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"  Wednesday,  1 1  o'clock  A.M. 

"  DEAR  MR.  MOLE, — I  write  in  a  terrible  state  of  alarm 
to  tell  you  that  Sunday  and  Monday  have  had  a  dreadful 
quarrel,  and  are  going  to  fight  a  duel.  I  have  tried  all  I 
could  to  stop  them,  but  they  won't  be  stopped.  They 
are  both  like  savage  tigers  thirsting  for  each  other's  blood  ! 
As  soon  as  you  have  read  this,  run  (Jack,  knowing  how 
good  Mr.  Mole  wss  on  his  wooden  pin,  chuckled  intensely 
as  he  wrote  this)  as  fast  as  you  can  to  Crackshaw's  Field, 
where  you  will  find  them  firing  away  at  one  another. 
Your  influence  alone  can  stop  this  dreadful  affair  of  blood. 

"Yours  in  great  anxiety, 

"JACK." 

"To  ISAAC  MOLE,  ESQ." 

Having  sealed  the  note  and  left  directions  that  it  should 
be  given  to  Mr.  Mole  when  he  came  in  from  his  morn- 
ing's walk,  our  hero  went  to  look  for  the  belligerent  nig- 
gers. 

He  found  them  all  ready. 

Polished  up  and  dressed  in  their  best. 

Their  ebony  faces  glistened  with  delight  at  the  pepper- 
ing they  fondly  hoped  they  were  going  to  give  each  other. 

Forgetting  that  they  were  very  likely  to  be  peppered 
themselves  at  the  same  time. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  17 

As  soon  as  their  young  master  appeared  they  rushed  to 
him. 

"Am  you  got  de  poppers,  Massajack?"  they  asked, 
eagerly. 

"Certainly,"  replied  our  hero;  "and  a  splendid  pair 
they  are,  too.  Look  !  " 

As  he  spoke,  he  opened  the  leather  case  that  contained 
them,  and  revealed  them  to  Sunday  and  Monday. 

The  eyes  of  the  darkies  glistened. 

Their  mouths  fairly  watered  at  the  sight. 

"  Dey  am  beauties  !  Dere  no  mistake  'bout  dem,"  they 
exclaimed  with  intense  admiration. 

"Yes,"  said  Jack,  "and  there's  no  mistake  about  the 
way  in  which  they  do  their  work  either. " 

"  Dey  got  six  barrels  apiece,  too,"  chuckled  Monday  ; 
"dat  capital !  " 

"Rather,"  grinned  Jack;  "by  the  time  you've  fired  a 
few  rounds  at  one  another,  you'll  both  be  as  full  of  holes 
as  the  top  of  a  pepper-box." 

Sunday  and  Monday  did  not  seem  quite  as  rapturous  as 
they  might  have  been  at  the  idea  of  this  wholesale  system 
of  ventilation. 

They  scratched  their  woolly  heads,  looked  first  at  their 
young  master,  who  was  whistling  "  Pop  Goes  the  Wea- 
sel "  very  unconcernedly,  and  then  at  each  other. 

"Oh,  golly  !  "  thought  Sunday,  "  if  old  Monday  kill  dis 
child,  him  not  hab  any  more  rum." 

Monday  was  also  in  deep  thought. 

He  was  thinking,  if  Sunday  shot  him,  he  might  make 
love  to  his  wife  Ada,  and  our  old  friend  Monday  did  not 
relish  the  idea. 

In  fact,  the  thought  was  beginning  to  dawn  upon  them 
that  they  had  been  a  little  rash. 

Perhaps  Monday  recollected  the  one  bullet  he  had  had 
extracted  from  his  body. 

If  one  bullet  was  so  painful,  what  would  a  dozen  or 
two  be  ? 

Monday  did  not  feel  happy. 

But  there  was  no  time  for  reflection. 

"It's  time  to  start,"  cried  Jack. 

And  away  they  went,  but  walked  very  slowly. 


!  8  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Sunday  and  Monday  recovered  their  spirits  during  the 

journey. 

They  had  snarled  at  each  other  all  the  way  as  they 
went,  and  by  the  time  they  arrived  at  the  scene  of  opera- 
tions, they  had  almost  reached  their  former  state  of  fero- 
cious enthusiasm. 

Every  unpleasant  allusion  to  the  ' '  tops  of  pepper- 
boxes "  was  forgotten,  and  they  were  only  anxious  to 
commence  proceedings. 

"We  quite  ready,  Massa  Jack,"  they  said  to  our  hero. 

"I'm  not,"  replied  the  latter  ;  "  before  you  can  use  the 
revolvers  effectually,  it  is  necessary  that  they  should  be 
loaded  ;  and  understand,  gentlemen,  they  must  be  loaded 
with  bullets." 

"Certainly,  Massa  Jack,"  admitted  the  duellists. 

Jack  did  not  hurry  himself  over  this  operation. 

He  wished  to  lose  as  much  time  as  possible,  in  order 
to  give  his  respectod  tutor  time  to  arrive  just  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  fun. 

Consequently,  he  performed  his  task  deliberately,  the 
two  anxious  combatants  watching  him  all  the  while  with 
much  interest. 

"  Dere  go  de  powder,"  soliloquised  Monday,  as  Jack 
poured  the  proper  quantity  of  the  combustive  material 
into  each  barrel.  ' '  One,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six  ;  dat 
jess  de  number." 

"  Dere  go  de  crushing  caps,"  Monday  continued,  mean- 
ing percussion  caps. 

"Am  all  de  leaden  pills  in  ? "  murmured  Sunday,  as  he 
watched  his  young  master  produce  the  bag  containing  the 
dough  bullets. 

"  How  many  of  these  would  you  like  in  each? "asked 
Jack,  as  he  shook  a  handful  out  of  the  bag. 

The  duellists  reflected  a  moment. 

They  seemed  very  undecided  on  this  point. 

Jack  came  to  their  assistance. 

"You  can  have  any  number  you  like,"  he  said,  sug- 
gestively; "one,  two,  or  three  ;  only  say." 

"  How  many  you  tink,  Massa  Jack?  "  asked  Monday  at 
length. 

"Nay,  it's  for  you  to  decide  upon  that, "  Jack  replied, 
with  a  smile. 

"How  many  you  hab  yourself  if  you  war  gwine  to 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  19 

Jine  in  this  noble  fight  ?  "  inquired  Sunday  of  his  young 
master. 

"That  all  depends  where  you  let  me  have  them.  I 
should  say  three  in  the  head  would  be  enough, "  said  young 
Jack. 

"  Tree  in  you  head,  eh,  Massa  Jack  !  "  echoed  Monday 
in  a  reflective  tone.  "Tree  in  each  barrel,  you  mean, 
eh?" 

"  Of  course.     Will  that  number  suit  you  ?  " 

"What  you  tink,  ole  double  smut?  "  Monday  asked  of 
his  opponent.  "  Tree  be  enough  in  each  barrel?  " 

"Him  tink  tree  quite  enough,"  growled  the  latter  in 
reply. 

"  Him  tink  so  himself,"  muttered  Monday. 

"Then  you  settle  upon  three?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Yes." 

Our  hero  had  now  to  perform  a  little  feat  of  legerdemain. 

He  carefully  counted  out  the  fictitious  bullets  in  threes, 
and  pretended  to  place  them  in  the  barrels  ;  but,  instead 
of  doing  so,  he  slipped  them  into  his  palm. 

The  lookers  on,  however,  did  not  detect  this. 

After  the  ramming-down  was  completed,  Jack  looked 
anxiously  across  the  field,  hoping  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
energetic  Mole  hurrying  down  to  the  scene  of  slaughter. 

No  signs,  however,  of  the  preceptor  appearing,  he  ap- 
proached the  combatants. 

"  Here  are  your  weapons,"  he  said,  as  he  placed  the  re- 
volvers in  their  hands. 

"Thank  you,  Massa  Jack." 

"  Berry  much  'bliged,  Massa  Jack,"  they  exclaimed,  each 
shutting  one  eye,  and  trying  to  squint  down  the  barrels. 

But  our  hero  had  stuffed  a  piece  of  paper  in  the  ends, 
and  they  could  see  nothing. 

"  Gorra  !  "  murmured  the  darkies,  "  dey  loaded  right 
bang  slap  up  to  de  muzzle." 

"  That's  a  fact,"  returned  Jack,  with  a  cheerful  laugh. 
"  Don't  look  down  the  barrels,  please,"  he  added,  in  a  tone 
of  precaution  ;  "if  one  happened  to  go  off,  the  conse- 
quences might  be  serious  ;  one  charge  is  enough  to  blow 
your  head  off." 

"Golly,  yes,  um  tink  so,"  exclaimed  the  sable  pair,  alter- 
ing the  positions  of  their  weapons  in  double  quick  time. 


20  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Well,  now,  I  think  we're  all  ready,"  said  our  hero. 
•"You'd  better  take  your  places. " 

"  Whar  we  to  go  to,  Massa  Jack  ? "  they  asked. 

•'I'll  show  you,"  answered  the  latter,  as  he  placed  them 
back  to  back ;  "but  first  I  must  ask  you  if  you  have  con- 
sidered where  you  would  each  like  to  be  buried. " 

"  No,  Massa  Jack,  we  hab  not" 

"That  is  very  forgetful^n  your  part,"  said  Jack.  "But 
have  you  ordered  coffins  for  yourselves  ?  " 

"Coffins,  sar  ?  "  cried  Monday  and  Sunday,  in  a  breath. 
"We  don't  want  no  coffins  ;  we  only  want  to  fight  like 
gentlemen." 

"Very  well.  Now  you'll  walk  away  from  each  other 
as  many  paces  as  you  like,  and  then  stop,"  said  our  hero. 

Away  walked  the  darkies  rapidly. 

From  the  eagerness  of  their  manner,  and  the  tremen- 
dous strides  they  took,  it  seemed  as  though  they  were  de- 
termined to  get  as  far  as  they  could  from  each  other. 

Voung  Jack  stood  shaking  with  laughter  at  seeing  the 
niggers  getting  so  far  from  each  other. 

At  length,  as  they  kept  walking  and  walking  on  with- 
out evincing  the  least  intention  of  coming  to  a  halt,  he 
bawled — 

"Hollo!  how  many  miles  are  you  going  before  you 
stop  ? " 

"Um  didn't  know  we  got  to  stop,"  they  bawled  back. 

"Oh!  yes,  you  ought  to  have  stopped  long  ago.  Come 
back. " 

They  returned,  and  stood  back  to  back,  as  before. 

"Now  start  again.     Count  six  paces,  and  then    stop." 

They  took  a  timid  glance  at  each  other's  pistols,  and  off 
they  went. 

"  One,  two,  tree,  seben,  nine,  six,"  they  counted. 

Perhaps  it  was  excitement  made  them  a  little  erratic  in 
their  numeration. 

' ;  Stop  !  That  will  do  very  well, "  remarked  Jack,  scarce- 
ly able  to  control  his  mirth. 

"Golly,  massa,"  murmured  Sunday,  as  he  glanced 
over  his  shoulder  at  his  opponent,  who  seemed  to  him  un- 
pleasantly near,  "  de  distance  berry  short." 

"Short!"  exclaimed  our  hero;  "  that's  the  proper  dis- 
tance. What's  the  use  of  firing  at  each  other  a  mile  off? 
There's  no  fun  in  it  at  all." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  21 

"  But  dis  rader  too  near,  Massa  Jack,  don't  you  think 
so?"  continued  Sunday. 

"  '  Specially  as  de  poppers  got  three  three  dozen  bullets 
in  each  barrel,"  uged  Monday. 

"Only  three,  you  donkey,  not  three  dozen,"  corrected 
Jack;  "but  there,"  he  added,  "  if  you're  afraid,  you  can 
take  two  steps  more,  but  not  another  inch." 

"  Dis  child  not  'fraid,"  returned  Monday,  indignantly. 

"No,  more  dis  child  neider,"  echoed  his  opponent. 

But  they  both  availed  themselves  of  their  young  master's 
permission,  and  took  two  more  strides,  good  long  ones  too. 

"  Now  then,  are  you  ready  ?  "  cried  Jack. 

"Iss,  massa." 

"Listen  tome,  then,"  continued  our  hero,  in  an  au- 
thoritative tone. 

"  Iss,  Massa  Jack." 

"You  will  please  remember  your  weapons  have  six 
barrels." 

"Iss,  Massa  Jack." 

"Each  of  which  contains  three  bullets." 

• '  Iss,  Massa  Jack, "  was  the  somewhat  shaky  reply. 

"Consequently, "  our  hero  went  on,  "you  will  have  six 
shots,  and  discharge  eighteen  bullets  in  the  first  round." 

"  Iss,  massa." 

"When  we  begin  to  pop?"  asked  Sunday,  nervously. 

"When  I  give  the  signal,  you  must  take  steady  aim  at 
each  other's  heads,"  Jack  replied ;  "  and  I  want  you  to  be 
very  particular  about  that." 

"Iss,  Massa  Jack,"  responded  the  tyros. 

"What  am  de  signal  ?  " 

"The  signal  I  shall  give  you,"  said  our  hero,  very  em- 
phatically, "will  be  knock  'em  both  down,  Mr.  Mole. 
Can  you  recollect  that  ?  " 

"  Certainly  um  can,"  replied  the  darkies,  in  considerable 
perturbation  of  ideas.  "  '  Knock  down  Massa  Mole.'  " 

"No,  no,"  laughed  Jack.  "'Knock  'em  both  down, 
Mr.  Mole.'" 

"Ah,  iss.  'Knock  'em  bote  down,  Massa  Mole,'" 
repeated  the  belligerents. 

"That's  it,"  returned  our  hero,  "don't  forget  that. 
Whenever  you  hear  me  say  these  words,  fire  away  as 
hard  as  you  can  till  I  cry  '  stop  ! ' ' 

There  was  a  dead  silence  for  a  moment. 


22  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Attention,  ready  !  "  said  Jack. 

"All — right — Massa  Jack,"  stammered  the  bloodthirsty 
duellists. 

Another  slight  pause,  and  then — the  signal. 

"Knock  'em  both  down,  Mr.  Mole,"  shouted  our  hero. 

Both  the  combatants  shut  their  eyes  simultaneously. 

Up  went  their  two  arms  in  the  air  with  the  revolvers  at 
the  end  of  them. 

Both  pulled  their  triggers. 

But  there  was  no  report. 

"Hollo,  hollo!"  cried  Jack,  "what's  the  meaning  of 
that  ?  " 

"Um  tink  dere  someting  de  matter  wid  de  poppers," 
said  the  combatants,  opening  their  eyes  in  astonishment. 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  our,  hero,  rather  impatiently,  as  he 
stepped  forward. 

"  Why,  you've  neither  of  you  cocked  your  weapons,  " 
he  exclaimed. 

"  No  more  'em  hab,"  admitted  the  duellists. 

"Don't  forget  that  again,  if  you  please/'  enjoined  Jack, 
rather  sternly  ;  "'it's  important." 

"No,  massa,  um  sure  not  to  forget,"  they  replied,  as 
they  pulled  back  the  hammers  of  the  revolvers. 

"Now,  then,  once  more — ready?  Knock 'em  both 
down,  Mr.  Mole,"  shouted  our  hero,  for  the  second 
time. 

The  same  process  was  repeated  as  before. 

The  duellists  shut  their  eyes  raised  their  revolvers,  and 
then  pulled  their  triggers. 

This  time  they  went  off. 

Bang,  bang,  bang,  bang,  bang,  bang  ! 

"Golly,  dey  beginning  to  go  now  anyhow,"  muttered 
the  combatants,  as  they  fired  right  up  in  the  air. 

Bang,  bang,  bang,  bang,  bang  bang  ! 

At  the  two  last  reports  our  hero,  who  was  prepared,  let 
fly  a  handful  of  the  dough  bullets  he  had  made  at  the  heads 
of  the  duellists. 

The  miniature  dumplings  came  with  a  sharp,  stinging 
sensation  against  their  foreheads. 

The  effect  was  electric. 

"Oh,  gorra  mussy,  him  brains  blowed  out !"  yelled 
Sunday,  as  his  legs  gave  way  under  him  and  he  rolled  on 
the  grass. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  23 

"  Dat  nigger  got  no  brains  to  blow  out,"  laughed  Mon- 
day. 

Jack,  feeling  inclined  to  burst  with  laughter,  walked  for- 
ward, and  picking  up  the  revolvers,  began  coolly  to  reload 
them. 

During  this  operation,  the  wounded  heroes  ceased  their 
lamentations,  and  sitting  upon  the  grass,  contemplate  ! 
one  another  rather  curiously. 

They  had  certainly  felt  the  bullets  strike  them. 

Yet  there  was  no  blood  to  be  seen,  and  the  momentary 
sting  had  passed  away. 

"  How  you  feel,  brodersmut?"  asked  Monday  at  length 
of  his  comrade. 

"  Him  don't  feel  much  de  wus,  ole  son,"  Sunday  an- 
swered. "  How  you  feel  yourself? " 

"  Him  feel  jess  de  same  as  you  feel,"  Monday  replied. 

"  Rather  faint,  eh?"  said  Jack,  cheerfully,  as  he  came 
up  to  them.  "That's  nothing,  considering  you've  got  a 
couple  of  bullets  in  each  of  your  skulls." 

"Golly,  Massa  Jack!"  they  gasped,  putting  up  their 
hands  together  and  instituting  a  vigorous  search  on  their 
frontal  regions. 

"Urn  don't  feel  no  holes,"  remarked  Monday,  at 
length. 

"No,  the  bullets  have  stopped  them  up,"  replied  our 
hero.  "  You're  all  right  for  another  round.  Here,  catch 
hold  of  your  shooters. " 

The  combative  pair  looked  rather  dismayed  as  Jack 
thrust  the  weapons  into  their  hands,  but  they  were 
ashamed  to  decline  them. 

"Now  then,"  cried  our  hero  ;  "  time  !  Up  with  you, 
and  remember,  when  I  give  the  signal  again,  don't  shut 
your  eyes,  and  fire  at  each  other  instead  of  in  the  air." 

The  combatants  again  took  their  places. 

Jack  was  about  to  give  the  signal. 

Suddenly  a  voice  was  heard  shouting  in  the  distance — 

"Stop  the  duel  ;  stop  it — it  is  murder.      I  forbid  it." 

"  It  was  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  scudding  along  with  all 
sails  set  towards  the  scene  of  action,  his  hat  stuck  on 
the  back  of  his  head,  and  his  coat  tails  flying  behind 
him. 

"Stop,  stop !"  he  cried,  as  he  came  waddling  up  to 
the  spot,  puffing  and  blowing  like  an  asthmatic  old  goose. 


24  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"I  can't  allow  murder  to  be  done ;  it's  against  the  law," 
he  gasped,  as  he  rushed  between  the  combatants. 

'•'  Put  down  your  deadly  weapons,  you  benighted  sav- 
ages,'' he  continued,  excitedly. 

"Um  shan't  do  noting  ob  de  sort,  Massa  Mole,"  re- 
turned Monday. 

"You  won't?  "  shrieked  Mole. 

"No,  um  won't,  um  see  yah  bio  wed  fuss.  Get  out  ob 
de  way,  and  let  us  go  on  wid  de  shooting." 

But  the  noble-minded  Isaac  would  not  get  out  of  the 
way. 

"I  see  nothing  but  strong  moral  influence  will  do 
here,"  he  muttered  to  himself. 

Then  addressing  himself  once  more  to  the  refractory 
niggers,  he  continued — 

"  My  poor  misguided  friends,  hear  me.  Listen,  you 
smutty-faced  vil — no,  I  mean  my  dearly-beloved  brethren, 
I  insist  on  your  putting  an  end  to  this  unnatural  strife.  " 

"  If  you  don't  stand  out  ob  de  way,  Massa  Mole,  um 
put  an  end  to  you,  s'elp  um  golly,  um  will,"  growled 
Sunday. 

"Pray  retire,  Mr.  Mole,"  pleaded  Jack  in  a  tone  of  in- 
tense anxiety  ;  "  don't  endanger  yourself." 

"No,  my  dear  pupil,"  returned  the  pious  Isaac,  firmly, 
"never  will  I  shrink  from  my  duty.  No  ;  they  may  kill 
me,  but  I  will  not  stand  by  and  see  murder  done.'" 

"But  consider  your  precious  life,"  entreated  our  hero, 
with  tears  of  irrepressible  mirth  in  his  eyes  ;  "do,  pray, 
consider  your  precious  life ;  consider  your  young  and 
lovely  wife." 

But  the  noble-minded  man,  with  Spartan  firmness, 
refused  to  consider  any  thing. 

"You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  you  two,"  cried 
Jack  to  the  negroes,  in  an  assumed  tone  of  strong  indig- 
nation, but  feeling  at  the  same  time  inclined  to  burst  with 
laughter;  "  if  I  was  Mr.  Mole,  I'd  let  you  know  who  I 
was. " 

"Sol  will,"  exclaimed  that  heroic  individual,  as  he 
drew  off  his  coat,  and  proceeded  to  tuck  up  his  sleeves  ; 
"  I'll  let  'em  know  who  I  am." 

"  That's  right,"  cried  Jack,  encouragingly,  as  he  shook 
a  handful  of  the  dough  bullets  out  of  the  bag  into  his  palm. 
And  then  he  shouted  enthusiastically — 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  •?$ 

"Knock  'em  down,  Mr.  Mole." 

"  Dat  de  signal,"  muttered  the  darkies,  who  began 
instantly  to  fire  away. 

Bang,  bang,  went  the  revolvers  in  the  most  lively  man- 
ner possible. 

Whizz  went  a  shower  of  small  dumplings  from  Jack's 
hand  in  the  face  of  the  bewildered  Mole,  who,  fully  be- 
lieving he  was  shot,  clapped  his  hands  over  his  eyes, 
roaring  with  all  his  might — 

"Oh,  murder,  murder!" 

Jack,  to  add  to  the  fun  of  the  fight,  fired  a  pistol  close  to 
Mr.  Mole's  ear,  and  just  at  the  same  moment  the  monkey 
started  forward. 

Bang,  bang  ! 

"  I'm  being  assassinated  !  "  yelled  Mole,  falling. 

Bang,  bang  ! 

' '  Murder." 

Bang,  bang  !  and  another  shower  of  dough  from  Jack. 
Down  went  Mr.  Mole  to  the  ground. 

"  I'm  a  murdered  man,  I'm  a  corpse.  What  will  Mrs. 
Mole  do  without  her  Mole  ? "  he  groaned. 

"She  do  bery  well,"  shouted  Sunday. 

Jack  rushed  up  eagerly  to  his  preceptor. 

"Are  you  hurt  much,  sir?"  he  asked. 

"Hurt  much?"  wailed  the  unhappy  sufferer.  "I'm 
mortally  wounded ;  about  twenty  shots  in  my  head. 
Can't  you  see  that  ?  " 

"  Oh,  dear,  where — in  your  head  ?  "•  inquired  our  hero, 
in  a  tone  of  well-assumed  horror. 

"  I  don't  know, "gasped  Mr.  Mole,  "everywhere.  Oh, 
oh  !  my  life  blood's  ebbing  away  rapidly  ;  I  feel  it  is  ;  send 
for  the  doctor." 

Mr.  Mole  was  carried  by  the  two  negroes  to  a  little  dis- 
tance, and  placed  with  his  back  against  a  tree,  moaning 
piteously. 

"  I  don't  see  any  blood,  sir,"  said  Jack,  presently. 

"I'm  bleeding  inwardly,"  gurgled  the  tutor,  in  a  hol- 
low tone  ;  "  my  end  is  fast  approaching." 

"It  will  be  a  great  comfort  to  you,  sir,  to  reflect  that 
you  died  in  the  cause  of  duty/' remarked  our  hero,  sooth- 
ingly. 

Mr.  Mole  made  a  very  wry  face  at  this  consoling  sug- 
gestion. 


26  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  I  don't  see  it  in  that  light  at  all,  "he  replied,  dolefully  ; 
"  I've  no  wish  to  die  just  at  present,  and — and  I  have  only 
been  married  to  my  third  wife  a  few  days. " 

He  stopped  suddenly,  and  pulled  Jack  down   close  to 

him. 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  put  your  hand  into  the  right 
pocket  of  my  coat  tail,"  he  whispered  to  him  faintly; 
"  you'll  find  a — a " 

"Wound,  sir?  " 

"No,  a  small  flask  of  rum;  I  think  a  little  will  revive 
me." 

The  flask  was  speedily  produced,  and  placed  to  Mr. 
Mole's  lips. 

While  he  was  drinking,  a  fresh  outbreak  took  place. 

Sunday  and  Monday,  having  exhausted  all  their  am- 
munition, and  not  being  able  to  fire  at  each  other  any 
more,  had  opened  the  bag  in  which  our  hero  had  secreted 
the  bladders  and  sticks. 

These  they  had  brought  forth,  and  were  banging  one 
another  about  the  head  and  face  to  their  hearts'  con- 
tent. 

"Do  you  see  that,  Mr.  Mole?  "cried  Jack,  with  pre- 
tended indignation.  "Look  at  those  fellows.'' 

The  tutor  looked. 

"Unfeeling  wretches,"  he  murmured,  "  still  engaged  in 
a  sanguinary  conflict ;  at  this  awful  moment,  too  !  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Jack  replied. 

"What  are  they  fighting  with  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Mole, 
who  was  considerably  mystified  at  the  peculiarity  of  the 
weapons  and  the  strange  rattling  noise  they  made. 

"Two  war  clubs,  of  the  wild  tribe  of  the  copper- 
coloured  Crackskulls,"  exclaimed  our  hero,  very  seriously. 

"  Never  heard  of  them,"  muttered  the  preceptor,  as  he 
took  a  pull  at  his  rum  flask. 

"There'll  be  more  murder  done,  I'm  afraid,"  continued 
Jack,  apprehensively,  as  the  bladders  and  the  peas  rattled 
away  on  the  heads  and  noses  of  the  combatants. 

"Couldn't  you  use  your  influence,  sir,  to  stop  that 
dreadful  fight  ? "  he  asked,  in  a  tone  of  earnest  entreaty  ; 
"it  would  be  a  noble  act  for  your  last." 

The  expiring  Mole  turned  up  his  eyes,  and  the  rum 
bottle  at  the  same  time  to  his  lips,  and  emptied  it. 

Then  he  replied,  magnanimously — 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE   WORLD. 


27 


"Yes,  it  would  be  a  noble  act ;  an  act  worthy  of  a 
man  and  a  brother.  I  will  do  it.  Be  kind  enough  to 
help  me  up." 

Jack  set  him  on  his  legs,  which  the  rum  had  made 
rather  unsteady,  and  the  large-hearted  Mr.  Mole  set  off  in 
a  very  zigzag  fashion  towards  the  combatants. 

"  Dark-skinned  sons  of  the — hie — tropics,"  he  exclaimed, 
solemnly,  as  he  reached  them,  "  forbear!  Isaac  Mole 
stands  before  you." 

The  tropical  individuals  took  no  notice  whatever  of  the 
grand  appeal,  being  far  too  deeply  engrossed  in  their  in- 
teresting amusement. 

Bang,  rattle,  went  the  bladders  on  the  heads  of  the 
players. 

Mr.  Mole  began  to  feel  his  great  soul  stirred  within 
him. 

"Desist,  sanguinary  monsters,  I — hie — command  ye  !  " 
he  continued,  energetically. 

Still  not  the  slightest  attention  was  paid  to  Mole. 

Bang,  rattle — rattle,  bang,  responded  the  bladders  on 
the  heads  of  Sunday  and  Monday. 

At  length  Mole's  patience  was  exhausted,  and  taking  a 
good  aim,  he  rushed  in  between  them. 

"Block-headed  pigs  !  "  he  shouted  ;  "  lay  down  your 
weapons  !  in  the  name  of  the  great  American  Republic,  I 
order  you  to " 

Bang,  rattle,  on  Mr.  Mole's  head. 

' '  Wretches  !  " 

Rattle,  bang,  on  Mr.  Mole's  nose. 

"  Scoundrels  !     Ruffians  !  " 

Bang,  rattle — rattle,  bang,  fell  the  bladders  like  hail- 
stones on  Mr.  Mole's  head,  nose,  ears,  eyes,  and  every 
part  of  the  upper  region  of  his  anatomy.  Loudly  he 
yelled — 

"I  shall  be  murdered  !  Oh,  my  poor  wife,  what  will 
she  do  without  me?  "  (Rattle,  bang.)  "Help  !  "  (Bang, 
rattle. )  ' '  Police  !  "  (Rattle  bang. )  "  Jack,  assist  me,  for  " 
(bang,  rattle.)  "  for  mercy's  sake  !  Oh,  my  poor  "  (rattle, 
bang)  "head!"  (Bang,  rattle.)  "My  skull's"  (rattle, 
bang)  "  fractured  !  " 

At  this  juncture,  and  as  a  grand  windup  to  the  whole, 
both  the  bladders  went  off  with  a  tremendous  pop. 

Down  went  Mr.   Mole  again  upon  his  mother  earth, 


28  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

smothered  in  flour  and  deluged  with  a  shower  of  peas, 
looking  like  the  ghost  of  a  departed  clown,  and  firmly 
impressed  with  the  idea  that  his  brains  had  been  knocked 
out  by  the  war  clubs  of  the  copper-coloured  Crack- 
skulls. 

Jack,  almost  in  convulsions  of  laughter,  which  he  was 
oblige  to  control  the  best  way  he  could,  rushed  to  assist 
his  respected  tutor. 

It  was  some  time  before  he  could  convince  him  that  he 
was  not  mortally  wounded. 

But  having  at  length  succeeded  in  impressing  him  with 
this  conviction,  Mole  was  hoisted  once  more  on  to  his 
legs. 

Sunday  and  Monday  had  already  shaken  hands,  and 
made  up  their  quarrel ;  and,  at  our  hero's  suggestion,  they 
apologised  very  humbly  to  the  discomfited  Mole. 

This  soothed  his  ruffled  feelings  considerably,  and  find- 
ing another  flask  of  rum  in  the  left  pocket  of  his  tail  coat, 
he  speedily  grew  very  hilarious,  insisting  upon  riding 
home  on  Monday's  shoulders,  singing  as  he  went,  in  a 
somewhat  inebriate  and  disreputable  manner — 

"  For  we  are  jolly  good — hie — fellows, 
And  so  say  all  of  us." 

The  niggers  and  young  Jack  joined  in  chorus,  and  all 
went  well  until  Monday,  getting  a  little  excited,  stumbled 
over  his  comrade's  foot  and  pitched  the  jovial  Mole  off 
his  perch  head  first  into  a  ditch. 

The  ditch  was  half  full  of  water,  but  the  worthy  tutor 
was  dragged  out  by  his  boots  before  he  had  swallowed  a 
couple  of  quarts. 

But  it  stopped  his  singing  for  that  day,  and  when  he 
reached  the  hotel,  he  was  glad  to  sneak  in  by  the  back 
way,  and  upstairs  to  his  room  as  quietly  as  possible. 

Having  reached  this,  he  went  at  once  to  bed,  ordered 
hot  water  bottles  to  his  feet,  and  drank  rum  and  water 
till  further  notice,  to  neutralise  the  effect  of  his  immersion 
in  the  ditch. 

Young  Jack  detailed  the  whole  affair  to  his  father,  who 
could  not  help  laughing  heartily  at  the  recital,  although, 
at  the  same  time,  he  shook  his  head  reprovingly  at  his 
mischief-loving  offspring. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  29 

"Nevermind,  dad,"  was  the  excuse   he  received;  "I 
only  do  as  you  did  when  you  were  a  boy." 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

THE  Bowery  gang  had  not  yet  got  clear  from  the  de- 
tectives. 

Toro  and  Hunston  were  still  prowling  about  disguised, 
watching  the  movements  of  Harkaway  and  Harvey,  and 
waiting  to  see  the  result  of  what  they  thought  young  Jack's 
cruel  death. 

The  "  Independence,  "the  ship  they  intended  sailing  off 
in,  had  not  yet  weighed  anchor. 

They  were  waiting  for  one  more  hand  to  make  up  the 
crew. 

This  hand  was  not  a  professional  sailor. 

There  was,  however,  a  weighty  reason  for  waiting  for 
this  hand. 

Several  of  the  crew  who  had  influence  with  Clem  mans, 
the  captain  of  the  ship,  had  persuaded  him  to  wait  for 
this  passenger. 

It  was  altogether  a  strangely-mixed  crew  that  served  on 
board  the  "Independence,"  and  Captain  Clemmans  cared 
not  for  testimonials  of  honesty  and  good  conduct ;  he 
only  wanted  their  credentails  to  speak  for  their  daring 
and  bravery. 

The  missing  man  that  they  were  waiting  for  answered 
thoroughly  well  all  these  requirements. 

The  influential  members  of  the  crew  were  Hunston  and 
Toro,  and  their  worthy  companions  from  the  den  in  The 
Bowery. 

The  man  that  they  were  waiting  for  was  Robert 
Emmerson. 

Delays,  however,  were  dangerous. 

They  little  thought  how  great  that  danger  was. 

There  was,  however,  a  certain  clannish  bond  between 
those  lawless  men  ;  and  although  they  would  one  and  all 
have  felt  infinitely  easier  in  their  minds  out  at  sea,  they 
could  not  endure  the  idea  of  weighing  anchor  while 
Protean  Bob  was  absent. 


3o  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Could  they  have  known  any  thing  about  him,  it  would 
have  sufficed. 

But,  as  it  was,  they  only  knew  that  Robert  Emmerson 
had  slunk  out  of  their  den  one  night,  bound  upon  a  foraging 
expedition  in  their  service,  and  that  he  had  not  returned. 

They  thought  it  very  likely  that  he  had  come  to  grief  in 
their  service. 

They  had  the  greatest  confidence  in  Protean  Bob's 
powers,  but  this  long-continued  silence  thoroughly 
alarmed  all  of  them. 

So  Hunston  and  Toro  resolved  to  go  ashore  disguised 
vn  search  of  him. 

They  knew  thoroughly  well  the  haunts  he  used. 

At  any  rate,  they  thought  they  would  be  likely  to  learn 
some  news  of  their  daring  and  adventurous  comrade. 

With  this  purpose  they  came  ashore  separately,  and 
made  by  different  routes  for  a  meeting  place  agreed 
upon  beforehand. 

This  meeting  place  was  a  low  drinking  bar,  frequented 
by  some  of  the  roughest  characters. 

While  here  they  got  into  a  dispute  with  a  queer,  hulk- 
ing-looking fellow,  who  was  apparently  a  freshly-landed 
emigrant  in  search  of  employment,  and  so  hot  grew  the 
discussion  that  it  looked  as  though  they  were  coming  to 
blows. 

The  fellow  had  got  a  precious  ugly  look,  and  although 
he  said  little,  they  were  on  their  guard  against  accidents 
when  they  saw  him  put  his  hand  behind  him,  as  though 
he  was  about  to  whip  out  a  bowie  or  a  six-shooter. 

Whether  it  was  that  the  cantankerous  fellow  was  not 
pleased  with  the  chance  of  an  encounter  with  a  man  oi 
Toro's  build,  or  whether  it  was  that  he  did  not  like  the 
idea  of  tackling  two  of  them,  we  cannot  say. 

Certain  it  is,  that  he  slunk  out  of  the  bar  without  a 
word. 

"  He's  an  evil-eyed  cuss,"  remarked  a  stranger  casually. 

"That  he  is." 

"More  brag  than  breeches,"  remarked  another. 

Just  then  back  came  the  quarrelsome  emigrant,  and 
stooping,  he  picked  up  a  paper  at  Hunston's  feet. 

"  You  dropped  this,"  he  said. 

And  once  more  he  vanished. 

Hunston  turned  the  paper  over  and  over  in  his  hand. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  31 

"  I  don't  think  I  did,"  he  said. 

And  then  he  was  about  to  throw  it  away,  when  a  scrap 
of  writing  on  it  caught  his  eye. 

This  was  the  scrap — 

"It  is  imprudent  to  lose  your  temper  in  a  bar.  Keep 
down  your  bile  till  you  reach  the  corner  of  Canal  Street, 
where  a  friend  may  accost  you." 

Hunston  changed  colour. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

He  consulted  with  Toro  about  it. 

"The  writer  of  that  letter  knows  us,"  said  Toro  at 
once. 

"Do  you  think  so ? " 

"  I  am  sure." 

"  It  certainly  looks  like  it,"  said  Hunston,  thought- 
fully. 

"It  is  as  sure  as  we  are  here,"  said  Toro  ;  "  how  can 
you  doubt  it  for  an  instant  ? " 

"Who  do  you  think  it  comes  from,  then?"  asked  the 
other.  "Friend  or  foe ?  " 

"Friend,  most  likely,"  replied  the  giant,  after  a  mo- 
ment's consideration. 

"Why  a  friend?" 

"Foe  can  only  point  to  Pike  and  Nabley." 

"Granted." 

"They  would  never  write  so  as  to  put  us  upon  our 
guard, "  remarked  Toro. 

"True." 

Talking  it  over  in  this  way,  they  wandered  out  of  the 
drinking  bar,  and  on  through  the  streets,  until  they  came 
to  Canal  Street. 

The  part  at  this  precise  moment  was  quite  deserted. 

But  not  for  long. 

They  had,  in  fact,  been  scarcely  five  minutes  there 
when  the  seedy-looking  loafer  from  whom  they  had  re- 
ceived the  letter  came  up. 

They  eyed  him  suspiciously  at  first,  and  both  kept  their 
hands  in  their  pockets,  holding  tightly  by  the  deadly 
weapons  they  carried,  ready  for  any  emergency. 

The  manner  of  this  seedy  personage  was,  however,  very 
different  now  from  what  it  had  been  in  the  drinking 
bar. 

There  it  had  been  cringing  and  insolent  by  turns. 


32  JA CK  HARK.4  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Here  it  was  neither  one  nor  the  other. 

A  quick  glance  about  him  on  all  sides  satisfied  him  ap- 
parently that  they  were  unobserved. 

Then,  in  a  low  but  animated  voice,  he  said — 

"  Hu'nston — Toro  !     What,  forgotten  and  so  soon?  " 

The  man's  manner  startled  them  considerably. 

"  Who  are  you?  " 

"Can't  you  guess  ?  "  he  replied,  with  a  laugh. 

"What  are  you  fooling  for  ?"  exclaimed  the  Italian, 
impatiently.  "  Why  beat  about  the  bush  so  ?  " 

The  stranger  laughed  at  this  outburst. 

It  needed  little  to  raise  the  ire  of  the  fierce  Italian,  as 
you  know,  and  in  an  instant  he  had  whipped  out  his  re- 
volver and  presented  it  at  the  mysterious  one's  head,  with 
a  loud  imprecation. 

"Speak!  " 

Hunston  knocked  up  his  hand  contemptuously. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  Toro.     What  good  can  that  do  ?  " 

"What  indeed?"  added  the  stranger,  laughing  still  in 
the  most  provoking  manner. 

"  Speak,  then  !  " 

"No  threats." 

"We  don't  wish  to  threaten  you,"  said  Hunston. 

"  Indeed.     But  it  looks  remarkably  like  it." 

"Take  no  notice  of  that,  then,  but  say  who  you 
are  ? " 

"I  will  not." 

Out  came  Toro's  pistol  again. 

"Judge  for  yourselves,"  continued  the  stranger,  re- 
moving his  hat 

And  then,  in  an  instant,  to  their  intense  surprise,  they 
recognised  Robert  Emmerson — so  aptly  named  Protean 
Bob. 

Yes,  there  was  no  mistaking  his  identity  now. 

But  how  changed  he  was. 

How  pale — how  wan  and  haggard  he  had  become  in 
those  few  days. 

And  small  wonder. 

He  had  been  skulking  about,  afraid  to  show  himself  in 
daylight  in  spite  of  his  aptitude  in  disguising  himself,  so 
fatally  hot  had  the  pursuit  of  him  become 

Perpetually  worried  and  harassed,  he  had  grown  to  be 
afraid  of  his  own  shadow. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  33 

In  every  street  he  met  the  officers  of  the  law  upon  the 
hunt ;  in  every  house  where  he  had  been  known,  and 
where  he  could  have  obtained  assistance,  he  found  sus- 
picious-looking men  hanging  about  on  the  watch. 

Matters,  indeed,  had  reached  such  an  alarming  pitch 
with  him  that  he  was  fearful  of  buying  food  with  the 
money  he  had  plundered  from  the  murdered  Garcia,  and 
thus,  with  a  small  fortune  upon  his  person,  he  had  atc- 
ually  felt  the  pangs  of  hunger. 

Saul  Garcia,  the  murdered  Jew,  was  already  partly 
avenged. 

Aye,  and  Garcia's  friend  Sol,  the  Jew,  and  the  murdered 
London  detective,  Nabley's  brother,  all  slain  by  Emmer- 
son,  were  yet  to  be  bitterly  avenged. 

' '  Emmerson  !  " 

"Bob!" 

Such  were  their  exclamations  on  recognising  their  in- 
famous associate. 

"Hush!" 

"What  now?" 

"Don't  bawl  my  name  about  so,"  said  Emmerson, 
looking  around  nervously. 

"There's  no  danger." 

"More  danger  than  you  know  of." 

"Stuff !  "  said  Hunston,  impatiently ;  "  you're  growing 
timorous  in  your  old  age,  Emmerson.  There's  no  one 
near  here  to  listen  to  anything  we  may  have  to  say." 

"I  can't  be  too  careful,"  said  Emmerson  ;  "the  police 
are  as  plentiful  after  me  now  as  stones  in  the  street.  Day 
and  night  I  am  hunted  after,  and  can  find  no  rest  any- 
where. My  life,  I  tell  you,  is  a  misery  to  me.  I  wish," 
he  added,  with  a  despairing  look,  "I  wish  I  was  dead 
and  buried. " 

His  comrades  in  villany  looked  at  each  other  in  mute 
surprise. 

They  could  not  believe  that  Robert  Emmerson  was 
afflicted  by  any  thing  like  remorse. 

Still  less  could  they  regard  him  as  a  man  who  was 
scared  by  fear  to  such  a  miserable  state  of  irritation  and 
nervousness. 

Yet  such  was  the  case. 

The  wretched  man,  his  hands  yet  reeking  with  murder, 
had  spoken  his  real  sentiments,  without  a  word  of  ex- 

3 


j4  JACK  HAKKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

aggeration,  in  saying  that  he  wished  himself  dead  and 
buried. 

His  life  was  indeed  a  misery  to  him  now. 

There  was  no  rest  for  him  in  mind  or  body. 

Emmerson  was  a  haunted  man. 

By  day  he  skulked  and  hid  away  in  mortal  dread  of 
being  seen  ;  by  night  he  dreamt,  when  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  sleep,  and  dreamt  horribly,  of  how  the  old 
Jew  fought  for  his  life.  His  visions  were  always  the 
same. 

Eternally  he  was  back  with  his  struggling  victim  enact- 
ing that  horrible  death-fight,  going  through  every  part 
of  that  hideous  tragedy,  in  which  every  detail  was  pre- 
sented before  his  fevered  brain  with  a  vividness  and 
reality  that  were  appalling. 

Was  not  Saul  Garcia,  then,  already  avenged  on  his  mur- 
derer ? 

'  How  did  you  get  away  ?"  he  asked  presently. 
'By  digging  upwards,"  was  Hunston's  reply. 
'  Upwards  !  " 
'Yes." 
'  How  ? " 

They  explained  then  what  they  had  done,  and  went 
into  their  adventures  generally  with  The  Bowery  gang. 

"In  the  house  above,"  said  Hunston,  "we  came 
across  Captain  Clemmans " 

"  Was  he  living  there  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"Confound  it  !  If  I  had  only  known  that,  what  a  deal 
of  trouble  I  might  have  saved." 

"  Well,  the  skipper  is  a  decent  sort  of  fellow." 

"A  bold  man,"  said  Toro,  which  was  the  highest  praise 
that  he  could  award  anyone. 

"He  is  that." 

"Yes,"  said  Hunston  ;  "  and  we  are  only  waiting  to 
get  off — so  you  can  guess  the  result." 

"I  can." 

"We  man  his  ship." 

"And  did  you  all  get  clean  off? " 

"Yes,  through  the  secret  way  Clemmans  took  us." 

"  Where  are  the  others  ?  " 

"On  board." 

"When  do  you  start  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


35 


"As  soon  as  our  crew  is  complete  ;  we  are  only  wait- 
ing for  one  man." 

"And  he  is " 

"  Robert  Emmerson,"  replied  Hunston. 

They  shook  hands  warmly  over  this. 

The  wretched  fugitive  felt  a  relief  at  hearing  this  which 
is  beyond  description.  He  had  been  depressed,  over- 
whelmed with  a  sense  of  utter  loneliness,  ever  since  that 
dread  night  of  murder. 

Crusoe  upon  his  desert  island  had  felt  happy  and  cheer- 
ful in  comparison  with  Emmerson,  who  prowled  about  in 
the  midst  of  crowds  and  yet  alone. 

And  so  far  had  this  sense  of  desolation  crept  over  him, 
that  the  revulsion  of  feeling  gave  him  a  great  desire  to 
shed  tears. 


CHAPTER  V. 

BURIED    ALIVE. 

SINCE  the  fearful  attack  made  on  young  Jack  in  the 
woods  by  Hunston  and  Toro,  he  had  received  strict  in- 
structions from  his  father  never  again  to  venture  out  of 
the  town  or  leave  the  hotel  without  a  protector. 

Jack's  courage  would  have  taken  him  any  where,  but  he 
would  not  disobey  orders,  so  he  prevailed  on  Dick  Harvey 
one  evening  to  take  a  stroll  with  him  and  Nero. 

Dick  Harvey,  wishing  for  a  walk,  at  once  consented. 

"Well,  Jack,  if  you  promise  to  be  good  and  not  run 
away,  I  will  go  with  you." 

"All  right,  sir,  off  we  go.  Come,  Nero,  old  boy,  you 
shall  have  a  run  with  us." 

"Stop,"  said  Harvey ;  "here  comes  your  father;  ask 
his  permission  before  we  start." 

"  What  are  you  up  to,  eh,  Jack  ?"  asked  Harkaway. 

"I  wish  to  have  a  stroll,  dad,  and  Mr.  Harvey  says  he 
will  come  with  me,  if  you  will  permit  me  to  go." 

"Very  well,   Jack,"  replied  his  father,  "I  know  you 
will  be  safe  with  my  old  friend  Dick  ;  so  off  with  you. " 
****** 

Emmerson  was  all  eagerness  to  proceed  on  board  at 
once. 


36  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

They  walked  in  single  file  through  the  town  towards 
the  spot  where  they  were  to  take  the  water  and  go  on 
board. 

As  they  were  walking  along,  they  came  across  a  sight 
that  surprised  them. 

A  youth  was  strutting  arm-in-arm  with  a  big  monkey 
dressed  up  in  gorgeous  array,  and  close  by  their  side 
walked  a  gentleman. 

"Keep  back  !  "  suddenly  cried  Hunston.  "See  there  ! 
Do  you  recognise  the  boy  ?  " 

"Can  it  be  the  young  cub  we  thought  we  had  done  for 
in  the  woods  ?  "  replied  the  giant,  starting  with  surprise. 

"  It  is  Harka way's  son,  young  Jack  Harkaway,  by  all 
that's  evil,"  whispered  Hunston. 

"Then  he  must  have  escaped  our  vengeance.  Why 
did  you  not  let  me,  when  he  was  hanging,  put  a  bullet  in 
him  ?  "  growled  Toro.  "  And  look  ;  there  is  his  infernal 
monkey.  Do  you  remember  him  ?  " 

Hunston  had  more  reason  to  recollect  Nero  than  his 
companion,  for  he  had  suffered  severely  from  his  claws 
upon  the  occasion  of  their  last  meeting. 

"  Curse  Harkaway  !  "  exclaimed  Hunston,  turning  to 
Emmerson  ;  "he's  the  author  of  all  our  troubles.'"' 

"All.     I  remember  his  visit  to  our  gaming-house." 

"  May  he  die  miserably,"  said  Toro. 

"I  wish  we  could  make  him,"  said  Hunston,  with  his 
old  vicious  chuckle.  "But  he  and  his  crew  seem  to  lead 
a  charmed  life." 

Hunston  might  well  say  so,  for  he  had  tried  all  that 
villany  could  devise,  and  audacity  carry  out,  to  put  an  end 
to  his  old  and  redoubtable  foes.  But  Jack  Harkaway  had 
been  too  much  for  him. 

He  was  a  ticklish  customer,  was  Jack. 

Meantime,  the  latter's  son  walked  on,  all  unconscious 
of  danger,  by  the  side  of  Harvey,  and  Nero  swaggered 
as  much,  or  more,  than  his  master. 

_  A  hurried  conversation  took  place  between  the  three 
villains,  and  then  their  consultation  speedily  assumed 
shape. 

A  terrible  shape  too,  alas  !  for  young  Jack. 

"Who  will  attack  the  man  ?  "  asked  Emmerson. 

"  I  will,"  cried  Toro.  "Wait  till  we  get  him  with  no 
one  near,  and  this  shall  settle  him  for  a  time." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  37 

And  Toro  pulled  from  his  coat  pocket  a  large  life-pre- 
server. 

"See,"  whispered  Hunston,  "  they've  turned  down  that 
dark  lane ;  now's  your  time." 

Toro  the  giant  was  some  distance  from  Harvey,  but  he 
swung  round  his  head  the  life-preserver,  and  then  it  went 
flying  through  the  air  straight  at  Harvey's  head. 

With  a  deep  groan  Dick  fell  to  the  ground,  but  rising  on 
his  arm,  he  cried — 

"Fly,  Jack,  my  boy,  we  are  attacked." 

The  next  moment  Toro  was  upon  him,  and  with  one 
heavy  blow  of  his  fist,  Harvey  fell  like  a  dead  man. 

Hunston  stole  after  the  boy,  carrying  his  cape  in  his 
hand. 

And,  just  as  young  Jack  was  about  to  turn  round,  the 
cape  was  thrown  over  his  head,  and  he  was  held  in  a  vice- 
like  embrace. 

Nero  bolted. 

The  sudden  assault  startled  the  monkey  at  first,  and  he 
squeaked  most  discordantly. 

In  fact,  such  a  precious  row  did  he  kick  up  that  they  be- 
gan to  be  afraid  that  attention  might  be  attracted  by  it, 
and  therefore  a  hurried  attempt  was  made  to  secure  Mas- 
ter Nero. 

But  the  latter  was  not  to  be  caught. 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  this  fellow  ? "  asked  Toro. 

"Let  him  remain  where  he  is,"  said  Hunston,  bru- 
tally kicking  poor,  helpless  Harvey.  "Now  let  us 
away." 

Young  Jack  was  hurried  along  for  some  distance,  and 
then  dragged  into  an  empty,  half-finished  dwelling. 

Not  till  then  was  the  cape  removed. 

The  prisoner  glanced  about  him  nervously. 

The  place  was  certainly  familiar  to  him. 

This  was  little  to  be  wondered  at — very  little,  for  in 
this  very  room  young  Jack  had  before  been  in  a  sorry 
predicament. 

It  is  needless  to  recall  to  the  reader's  mind  that  terrible 
affray  in  the  street  in  which  poor  Isaac  Mole  came  to  grief, 
and  wherein  the  unhappy  Harry  Girdwood  was  done  to 
death  by  that  butcher  Toro. 

Now  they  had  Jack  once  more  alone ! 

No  fear  of  interruption  this  time. 


38  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Their  purpose  was  then  to  complete  what  they  had 
begun  before. 

What  this  purpose  was  would  have  puzzled  a  looker-on 
at  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  for  Toro  began  operations 
by  pulling  away  the  brickwork  by  the  half-finished  chim- 
ney. 

Young  Jack  saw  all. 

Prayers,  tears,  remonstrances,  the  boy  knew  well  would 
avail  him  little  with  these  men. 

He  was  as  brave  as  a  young  lion,  too,  and  humble  pie 
was  a  species  of  diet  that  he  was  little  used  to. 

"  Ready  for  him  now  ?  "  asked  Hunston. 

"Yes." 

"  Put  him  inside,  then,  Emmerson,  and  don't  fail  in 
having  your  revenge  this  time." 

"I  wish  his  accursed  father  was  here,  too,"  said 
Toro. 

"That's  a  lie  !  "  retorted  young  Jack,  quickly. 

"Silence!" 

"You  know  it  is  a  lie,"  added  the  fearless  boy.  "If 
my  father  were  here,  you'd  be  all  shaking  in  your  shoes 
with  fright." 

Toro  made  a  savage  slap  at  the  speaker,  which  young 
Jack  dodged  nimbly. 

"If  your  father  was  here,  he'd  be  treated  the  same 
as  you, "  said  Hunston;  "he's  a  cur,  and  he'll  suffer 
yet." 

"You  know  that  is  idle  lying,"  said  young  Jack; 
"you've  felt  the  weight  of  his  arm  often  enough." 

"Hold  your  noise,"  thundered  Hunston,  furiously. 

"It  is  true." 

"You  lie!" 

"I  don't  ?  You  know  you  have  begged  your  life  when 
you  had  no  right  whatever  to  expect  mercy,  and  he  has 
granted  it ;  and  you  know  how  you  have  turned  upon  him 
always,  and  repaid  him  by  more  treachery." 

"  I'll  cut  your  tongue  out." 

' '  You  tried  that  on  with  my  father, "  said  young  Jack, 
and  it  did  not  succeed." 

"But  we  are  alone  here,  and  I  do  not  see  why  I  should 
not  at  once  kill  you,"  said  Hunston,  pulling  out  his  long 
thin  dagger. 

'« He  may  escape  again  like  he  has  from  the  hanging 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  39 

business,"  cried  Toro  ;  "  therefore  I  say  let  the  boy  be 
killed.  It  will  make  sure. " 

"Oh,  you  are  bold  fellows,  I  know,"  said  the  boy,  with 
a  sneer.  "I  escaped  from  the  woods,  and  something 
tells  me  I  shall  again  escape." 

"Silence  !  "  roared  Hunston. 

"You'll  not  escape,"  said  Toro,  "  for  you'll  never  see 
mortal  face  again.  So,  you  young  vermin,  death  is  near 
you.  Tremble  !  " 

"Don't  know  how,"  retorted  young  Jack;  "it's  an 
item  in  the  education  of  the  Harkaways  which  has  been 
totally  neglected." 

In  the  tussle  of  wits  young  Jack  was  clearly  their 
master. 

They  waited  no  longer,  but  seized  him  and  dragged 
him  to  the  chimney  to  thrust  him  in. 

Yonng  Jack  offered  no  resistance  whatever. 

It  would  have  been  useless,  as  he  well  knew. 

Once  there,  in  that  narrow  aperture,  one  of  them  held 
a  pistol  at  his  head,  while  Toro  set  actively  to  work  with 
trowel  and  mortar  and  bricks. 

And  now  it  became  apparent  what  fiend-like  villany 
they  contemplated. 

Bricking  him  up  ! 

Consigning  the  young  and  hapless  boy  to  a  living 
tomb  ! 

And,  in  all  this,  what  caused  them  the  greatest  disap- 
pointment was  to  find  their  victim  fearless  and  undaunted 
as  ever. 

They  knew  well  that  he  realised  the  full  danger  of  his 
position,  for  his  sharp  tongue  told  of  keen  wit. 

Yet,  whatever  he  felt,  he  kept  it  well  to  himself. 

They  knew  how  dreadfully  he  had  suffered  when  tied 
up  by  the  heels  in  the  wood,  and  they  counted  this  time 
upon  tears,  and  cries,  and  prayers  for  mercy. 

Imagine,  therefore,  how  great  was  their  disappoint- 
ment 

And  still  the  bricking-up  continued. 

The  wall  which  was  closing  up  before  young  Jack  was 
two  bricks  deep,  and  of  a  solidity  which  would  certainly 
defy  his  efforts  to  free  himself. 

Young  Jack  kept  a  calm  exterior,  but  he  felt  a  sickening 
dread  creeping  over  him. 


40  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Brick  by  brick  his  doom  was  being  consummated. 

A  death  far  too  horrible  to  contemplate. 

But  he  did  not  mean  to  let  them  see  his  fear  in  his  face. 

He  was  keeping  his  eyes  open  for  any  chance  which 
might  offer,  and  presently  he  thought  that  he  saw  one. 

Hunston  was  standing  close  by  the  aperture,  and  out 
from  his  breast-pocket  the  hilt  of  a  knife  appeared,  just 
within  reach. 

Young  Jack  was  at  it  in  a  jiffy. 

He  reached  it,  too,  and  in  the  self-same  effort  made  a 
stab  at  Hunston,  which  had  very  nearly  taken  effect. 

But  Emmerson  knocked  up  his  hand  sharply. 

Down  fell  the  knife  with  a  clatter  upon  the  floor,  and 
young  Jack  received  a  cruel  slap  in  the  face,  which  sent 
him  reeling  back,  bleeding  at  the  mouth  and  nostrils. 

At  the  same  instant  Nero  made  his  appearance  at  the 
door  but  suddenly  disappeared  as  Toro  threw  a  brick  at 
him,  shouting — 

"There's  that  brutal  monkey  again." 

The  monkey  bounded  away  grinning. 

But  Nero  was  soon  back,  and  pouncing  upon  Hunston 's 
knife,  he  darted  across  the  room. 

And  then  followed  an  exciting  chase,  all  in  favour  of 
the  monkey ;  who  was  here,  there,  and  everywhere  in  a 
trice. 

"We  had  better  shoot  him,  I  think,"  said  Toro. 

"No,  no." 

"Why  not?" 

"The  noise  would  alarm  the  neighbourhood." 

"True." 

"The  best  idea  would  be  to  brick  him  up  with  the 
brat." 

"True,  true,"  cried  the  other  two  in  a  breath. 

'•'  They  will  enjoy  it  all  the  more,"  said  Hunston,  "  and 
perhaps  they  will  gnaw  each  other  when  the  pangs  of 
hunger  grow  rather  more  pressing  than  pleasant." 

"I  should  like  to  watch  the  accursed  brat's  face  then," 
said  Toro,  in  fiendlike  glee. 

"So  should  I." 

"But,  happily,  we  shall  be  far  away  from  New  York, 
upon  the  ocean,  I  hope  by  then.  Now  for  the  monkey." 

They  spread  out,  and  drove  Nero  into  a  corner. 

But  Nero  was  not  to  be  caught  so  easily. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  41 

Just  as  they  thought  they  had  hold  of  him,  he  sprang 
up  and  bobbed  past  them. 

Then,  with  a  bound,  he  flew  to  the  chimney  and  joined 
his  unfortunate  young  master. 

As  the  last  brick  was  being  placed,  Hunston  called 
through  the  small  aperture  to  young  Jack — 

'  Will  you  beg  for  mercy  ?  " 
No." 

'  Will  you  sue  to  us  for  forgiveness  ? " 
No." 

'  Once  more,  for  the  last  time,   will  you  beg  for  your 
life  ? " 

"Never.  You  thought  you  had  destroyed  me  in  the 
woods,  but  I  am  here.  I  do  not  fear  you,  and  will  not 
beg  of  you  my  life, " 

"Quite  right,  boy ;  you  would  not  have  got  it." 

"  Finish,"  said  Toro,  impatiently  ;  "  he  is  bragging  as 
much  he  did  in  the  woods." 

The  last  brick  was  placed. 

The  deed  was  done. 

And  thus  was  young  Jack  Harkaway  consigned  living 
to  the  grave. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MR.   MOLE  AS  A  STUMP  ORATOR. 

MR.  MOLE  and  his  bride  took  the  first  train  for  Boston, 
and  thence  he  proceeded  to  Harkaway's  plantation, 
where  he  was  to  spend  a  brief  honeymoon  with  his  dusky- 
bride. 

In  attendance  upon  the  "  young  couple  "  were  the  brace 
of  blackbirds,  Messieurs  Sunday  and  Monday. 

They  had  both  been  duly  coached  up  by  Dick  Harvey 
before  starting,  and  they  had  made  up  their  minds  for 
fun  with  the  newly-married  pair — w  ith  the  bridegroom 
especially. 

As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  the  plantation,  a  grand 
general  assembly  of  the  coloured  population  was  called 
by  Sunday  and  Monday 

The  meeting  was  settled  to  take  place  in  a  large  barn, 


42  fA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

and  Monday  was  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  better  for  it 
to  take  the  character  of  a  farewell  lecture. 

Accordingly  a  temporary  platform  was  raised. 

A  table  or  desk  was  placed  upon  it,  and  duly  provided 
with  the  orthodox  water-bottle,  glass,  and  hand-bell. 

The  hand-bell  was  to  invite  silence  when  the  lecturer 
should  be  ready. 

Mrs.  Mole  was  seated  in  the  front,  close  by  the  lecturer's 
desk,  and  by  the  way  in  which  she  exchanged  nods  and 
glances  with  Sunday,  it  looked  as  if  they  were  on  strangely 
familiar  terms. 

Presently  there  was  a  general  hush  ;  then  a  burst  of 
applause,  which  rang  through  the  barn. 

Mr.  Mole  stumped  gracefully  on  to  the  platform. 

"Bravo,  Massa  Mole,"  shouted  the  niggers  and 
negresses,  lustily.  "Bravo,  sar  !  " 

Mr.  Mole  bowed  his  acknowledgments. 

Then  he  turned  to  Sunday,  who  had  followed  him  on 
to  the  platform. 

Sunday  had  evidently  some  official  duties  to  perform 
here,  for  he  began  by  ringing  the  bell  to  call  for  silence. 

Then  he  cleared  his  voice  with  rather  more  ostentation 
than  was  precisely  necessary. 

"Ladies  an'  gemmen,  an'  specially  gals  ob  de  col- 
oured persuasion,"  he  began,  with  an  elegant  wave  of  the 
hand. 

"  Bravo,  Sunday  !  "  screamed  the  audience. 

Mr.  Mole  looked  rather  indignant. 

Was  he  to  lecture,  or  was  Sunday  ? 

That  was  the  question  he  had  to  ask  himself. 

Sunday  bowed  gracefully  and  continued — 

"  I  hab  de  extinguished  honour  ob  introducing  my 
brudder  Mole. " 

"Drop  the  brother,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  audibly. 

"I  repeat,  ladies  an'  gemmen,  of  introducing  my  brud- 
der Mole,"  continued  Sunday  ;  "an'  ladies  an'  gemmen, 
it's  twice  de  pleasure  to  introduce  a  man  an'  a  brudder 
when  he  is  such  a  brudder." 

"What  are  you  driving  at,  Sunday  ?"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Mole,  growing  impatient.  "I  wish  you  would  be  a  little 
less  familiar  in  your  manner." 

"What  for,  Massa  Mole?" 

"What  for,  you  ignorant  nigger  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  43 

"Yes,  Massa  Mole." 

"Because  I  don't  care  to  be  brothered  all  over  the  place 
by  you.  It's  all  very  well  to  call  a  black  pudding  like  you 
a  man  and  a  brother  ;  it's  all  very  well,  I  say  in  a  speech, 
or  in  a  sentimental  song,  or  in  a  book.  It's  a  sort  of  senti- 
mental figure  of  speech,  you  understand,  that's  invented 
in  some  tract ;  for,  of  course,  a  black  doll — a  male  Aunt 
Sally  like  you, — can't  very  well  be  a  brother  of  mine." 

"Oh,  I  can't!" 

"Of  course  not." 

"Sure?" 

"Don't  talk  stuff." 

"Come  here,  Chloe,"  said  Sunday. 

"Sunday,"  said  Mr  Mole,  "I  beg  you  won't" 

"Won't  what?" 

"  Won't  be  quite  so  familiar  with  Mrs.  Mole.  Remem- 
ber, please,  her  name  is  Mrs.  Mole." 

"Yes,  sar  ;  Chloe  Mole." 

"Mrs.  Mole,"  said  the  tutor,  severely.  "And  whether 
Mhoe  Clole — I  mean  Molly  Chole — that  is,  Chloe  Mole  or 
not,  little  concerns  you." 

Sunday  scratched  his  wool,  and  winked  again  at  Mon- 
day. 

There  was  evidently  something  up  between  them. 

' '  Well,  brudder  Mole,  I  will  if  yer  likes ;  but,  by 
golly  !  won't  it  sound  rum  to  hear  me  call  my  sister  Mrs. 
Mole?" 

Mr.  Mole  made  a  very  wry  face  at  this  speech. 

"What  do  you  mean,  you  ignorant  bit  of  coal,  by  your 
sister  ? " 

"  She  is  my  sister,  brudder  Mole,"  returned  Sunday. 

"  Don't  make  a  greater  ass  of  yourself  than  is  necessary, 
Sunday." 

"It's  a  fack,"  persisted  the  darkey. 

"What  is?" 

"  Dat  Chloe  am  my  sister." 

"Bah!" 

' '  Ask  her. " 

"If  you  try  on  your  unseemly  jokes  with  me,  Sunday, 
I  shall  certainly  complain  to  Mr.  Harvey." 

"You  can  'plain  to  Old  Nick  himself  if  you  like,  brudder 
Mole  ;  but  Chloe  Lisbef  Jex  dat  was,  Chloe  Lisbef  Mole 
dat  is,  am  dis  chile's  sister. " 


44  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Sunday  leant  over  the  handrail,  and  appealed  to  Mrs. 
Mole. 

"Is  dat  so,  Chloe?" 

"Course  it  is,  Caesar  Hannibal,"  replied  Mrs.  Mole. 

Sunday  turned  triumphantly  to  Mole. 

"You  hear,  sar  ?  " 

"Yes,  yes,"  replied  the  bewildered  Mole ;  "  but  I  don't 
understand " 

' '  You  don't  appear  to  understand  nuffin',  brudder  Mole, " 
said  Sunday,  with  a  faint  dash  of  contempt  in  his  tone. 
"If  Chloe  Lisbefjex  and  Caesar  Hannibal  Augustus  Con- 
stantine  Jex  was  brudder  and  sister,  ob  course  you  and 
me  is  brudder  and  brudder." 

The  argument  had  grown  public  by  this. 

As  it  grew  more  animated,  they  spoke  in  a  louder 
voice,  and  so  that  the  audience  could  hear  all  that  was 
said. 

"Bravo,  Sunday  !  "  said  one  of  the  foremost  niggers. 

The  applause  was  taken  up,  and  Sunday  had  to  bow 
gracefully  his  acknowledgments  of  their  approval. 

Mr.  Mole  winced. 

A  dreadful  feeling  was  creeping  over  him. 

He  felt  convinced  that  he  had  been  done,  yet  he  could 
not  accept  the  belief  all  at  once. 

"  My  good  friend  Sunday  speaks  in  a  poetical  sense, "  he 
said,  with  a  bland  smile. 

"No,  I  don't,"  cried  Sunday;  "I  don't  know  nuffin' 
about  pottery. " 

"  Poetry." 

"I  says  pottery.  What  I  mean,  sar,  is  dat  you're  my 
brudder,  'cos  Chloe  and  me  had  the  same  mother  and  same 
father." 

"Ha!" 

Mr.  Mole  was  staggered. 

There  was  no  resisting  this  any  further. 

"The  same  father  and  mother!"  groaned  Mr.  Mole. 
"Why  didn't  you  say  so  before?  " 

It  was  a  sad  blow  to  him,  for  he  had  reviled  Sunday, 
and  heaped  all  kinds  of  moral  dirt  upon  that  darkey's  de- 
voted head  before  everybody,  and  now  he  discovered  that 
he  was  his  brother  by  marriage. 

It  was  really  too  bad. 

However,  this  was  not  all  he  was  to  suffer. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  45 

The  brace  of  dusky  wags  had  something  in  store  for 
him. 

They  had  not  forgotten  or  forgiven  him  for  painting 
them  up  as  he  had  done. 

"  He  made  us  white,"  said  Monday  to  his  colleague, 
"we'll  make  him  black.  Dat's  de  way  to  take de larf out 
ob  him." 

Sunday  went  on  with  his  introduction  of  the  lec- 
turer. 

"My  brudder  Mole,"  he  said,  "am  a  pusson  ob  high 
'stinction,  and  don't  play  second  fiddle  to  no  living  cuss 
as  a  orytor.  He've  only  took  to  lecturing  since  he  lost 
his  leg.  Perhaps  you'll  say,  ladies  and  gemmen  ob 
colour,  dat  it's  quite  natural  dat,  under  de  circumstances, 
he  should  '  go  on  de  stump.'*  Dere  ain't  nuffin'  to  larf  at, 
you  niggers.  My  brudder  Mole,  I  say,  am  a  pusson  ob 
high  distinction.  He's  got  a  good  deal  more  in  his  head 
dan  you  can  get  out.  What  are  you  larfing  at,  you  nig- 
ger ?  He  ain't  got  so  much  wool  on  his  cokernut  as  some 
of  us  ?  "  he  went  on,  as  if  replying  to  a  remark  of  one  of 
the  audience.  "  Maybe  he  ain't,  but  it's  not  what  he's  got 
on  his  head,  gemmen  ;  it's  what  he's  got  in  it. " 

And  as  Sunday  spoke,  he  thumped  the  table  to  emphasise 
his  speech,  and  in  thumping,  he  jerked  Mr.  Mole's  hat  off 
on  to  the  ground. 

Monday  picked  it  up,  and  as  he  did  so,  he  tipped  the 
wink  to  his  colleague,  and  they  both  grinned. 

It  almost  looked  as  if  there  was  some  mischief  in  the 
wind. 

Monday  made  a  great  show  of  brushing  Mr.  Mole's  hat 
inside  as  well  as  out. 

Now,  if  you  had  looked  a  little  closer,  it  would  have  ap- 
peared as  though  Monday  were  rubbing  just  the  inside  of 
the  hat,  just  the  rim  of  the  lining  which  rests  upon  the 
forehead,  with  some  powdered  burnt  cork. 

Moreover,  he  dropped  some  of  the  finely-powdered  cork 
into  Mr.  Mole's  coloured  silk  handkerchief  which  was  in 
the  hat. 

This  done,  he  hastened  to  restore  the  hat  to  Mr.  Mole. 

Sunday   had,  by   this   time,  finished   his   address,  and 

*  Need  we  explain  that  " Going  on  the  stump"  is  an  Americanism 
for  travelling  about  lecturing  ? 


46  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

made  way  for  Mr.  Mole,  who  stumped  forward,  and  gave 
a  preliminary  cough. 

The  allusion  to  his  growing  baldness  had  not  been  thrown 
away. 

He  did  not  care  to  appear  to  notice  it,  but  by  degrees  he 
fiddled  at  his  hat  and  fidgeted  about  until  he  got  it  on  to 
his  head. 

"Ahem?"  began  Mr.  Mole.  "Ladies  and  gentle- 
men  " 

"Bravo,  brudder  Mole  !  "  from  Sunday. 

"I  have  much  pleasure  in  meeting  you  all  here  to-night, 
although  I  must  confess  that  I  could  wish  the  cause  had 
been  different.  We  are  going  away " 

"Oh — h — h,"  yelled  Sunday,  suddenly  grief-stricken, 
and  the  whole  of  the  audience  caught  it  up,  howling 
away  at  a  deafening  rate. 

"  Hush !  my  good  friends,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  with  difficulty 
making  himself  heard.  "  It  is  not  as  if  I  were  going  to 
die " 

"Dye  what,  sar?"  asked  Monday;  "not  your  whis- 
kers ? " 

"Dear  me ? "  cried  Mole,  quite  perplexed.      "  No  !  " 

"What  den,  sar?  Can't  be  your  wool;  der  ain't  'nuff 
to  dye  by  no  manner  ob  means." 

Mr.  Mole  sighed. 

They  seemed  to  be  playing  at  cross-purposes. 

"  When  I  say  die,  my  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  mean 
to  paint  or  change  the  colour  of  my  hair  or  beard — far 
from  it.  I  simply  mean  dissolution — the  word  of  the 
same  sound,  but  of  a  different  orthography " 

"Don't  know  nuffin"bout  jography,"  said  Sunday. 

"In  other  words,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  not  heeding 
the  interruption,  "I  meant,  as  Shakespeare  says,  '  the 
shuffling  off  this  mortal  coil ' " 

"Dat's  me!  "cried  Sunday,  with  a  laugh.  "Oho, 
Massa  Mole  says  he  means  shufflin' !  " 

"  Hooray  ! "  yelled  the  coloured  audience. 

"Now,  you  darkies,"  cried  Sunday,  "  we  all  know  dat 
Massa  Mole  is  a  heavenly  dancer." 

"  He  am  dat !  "  cried  Monday,  "  regular  beautiful." 

"So,  gents  all,  likewise  gals,"  said  Sunday,  gravely, 
"what'll  you  have  ?  Quickstep,  Lancashire  breakdown, 
or  hornpipe  ?  Don't  all  speak  at  once." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  47 

"Dear  me,  dear  me!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  "  I 
mean " 

"Fandango,  bolero,  cachuca  ?"  cried  Sunday.  "Now, 
den,  black  folks,  choose,  forbrudder  Mole  wants  to  begin. " 

"  De  '  Essence  ob  ole  Virginny,"  cried  one  of  the  ladies. 

The  rest  approved  of  this,  for  they  kicked  up  a  rare  row. 

Now  "The  Essence  of  Old  Virginia"  was  the  name 
of  a  breakdown  which  was  danced  by  aged  niggers, 
whose  legs  had  lost  their  youthful  elasticity. 

Mr.  Mole  knew  this,  and  he  had  a  double  reason  for 
resisting  the  suggestion. 

Firstly,  he  did  not  mean  dancing  at  all. 

Secondly,  he  did  not  approve  of  this  allusion  to  the 
summer  of  his  own  life  having  so  completely  departed. 

"Dear,  dear  me,"  he  exclaimed,  in  sheer  despair,  "if 
I  am  not  allowed  to  speak,  I  shall  leave  the  platform." 

He  would  have  carried  his  threat  into  effect  had  not 
Sunday  been  there  to  have  stopped  him. 

Neither  he  nor  Monday  meant  to  let  the  worthy  tutor 
off  so  easily. 

They  managed  to  obtain  silence,  and  Sunday  proceeded 
to  offer  some  explanation. 

"  Massa  Mole  don't  mean  to  dance  now,"  he  said; 
"  he've  changed  his  mind." 

The  audience  groaned. 

"No,  no  !"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  "that's  not  it.  I  never 
spoke  of  dancing." 

"Oh,  yes,"  corrected  Sunday,  with  a  serious  and  re- 
proachful look,  "  you  said  shuffling  most  distinctual." 

"He  did,  he  did!" 

"But  I  didn't  mean  double  shuffling,"  cried  Mr.  Mole, 
in  despair. 

' '  Oh — h — h  !  "  ejaculated  Sunday.  ' '  Massa  Mole  mean 
to  say  dat  he's  only  a  ornary  shuffler. " 

Expressions  of  anger  were  manifested  at  this  explana- 
tion. 

Mr.  Mole  gave  it  up  for  a  bad  job. 

He  turned  to  the  water-bottle  for  consolation,  and 
filled  a  tumbler. 

You  would  never  have  forgotten  the  wry  face  that  h& 
made  as  the  water  trickled  down  his  throat. 

"Sunday  !" 

"  What's  the  matter,  sar  ?  " 


48  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"You've  forgotten  to  put  the  gin  in,"  he  said,  in  a 
whisper  of  the  greatest  disgust. 

"Nebermind  the  gin.  Speak  to 'em  ;  dey're  getting 
in  a  debbil  of  a  temper.  Say  summat  to  smooth  'em 
down  like." 

"What  shall  I  say?" 

"Tell  'em  dat  black  and  white  is  all  one — dat  we're 
all  brudders  and  sisters,  and  sich  ;  dem's  de  sentiments 
what'll  fetch  'em." 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "to  resume. 
I  came  only  to  deliver  a  short  farewell  address  to  you.  I 
do  not  like  the  idea  of  leaving,  even  though  it  be  but  on 
a  journey,  without  bidding  you  good-bye." 

"Hear,  hear  !  " 

"  Thank  you.  For  are  you  not  as  dear  to  me  as  any 
white  people  ?  Of  course,  are  we  not  all  men  and  women 
with  hearts  alike — all  brothers  ?  " 

"An'  some  sisters,"  added  Monday,  in  an  audible  voice, 
which  made  the  audience  laugh. 

"  Dat's  right,  brudder  Mole,  "said  Sunday,  sotlo  voce  ; 
"you's  gwine  it.  Pile  it  in  stiff." 

Mr.  Mole  could  not  but  see  that  the  pair  of  darkeys 
were  having  some  fun  with  him,  and  so  he  made  a  sly 
dash  at  retaliation. 

"Black  and  white  are  all  one  to  me,"  he  went  on  to 
;say  ;  "  our  good  friends  here  will  tell  you  that  I  have 
ever  regarded  them  as  my  equals.  The  difference  of 
colour  I  looked  upon  as  of  little  consequence.  Yet  they 
will  tell  you  I  have  done  my  best  to  make  them  as  white 
as  I  am  myself." 

Sunday  and  Monday  exchanged  looks  at  this. 

"They  will  tell  you,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  encouraged  by 
the  laughter  and  cheers  of  his  auditors  ;  "that  I  painted 
them  white  to  try  and  demonstrate  practically  that  we 
were  all  alike." 

"  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !  "  laughed  the  coloured  people  gen- 
erally. 

"An'  Massa  Mole,  findin'  dat  won't  answer,"  said 
Monday,  suddenly  getting  on  his  legs,  "is  going  to 
.paint  hisself  black  ;  so,  anyhow  he'll  make  hisself  our 
equal. " 

They  cheered  at  this. 

"I  can't  exactly  promise  that,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  super- 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  49 

ciliously  ;  "  but  I  may  paint  them  white  again  on  some 
future  occasion." 

As  he  spoke  he  took  off  his  hat  to  wipe  his  forehead, 
and  there,  sure  enough,  was  a  coronet  of  black  dye. 

And  then,  when  he  wiped  his  forehead,  he  smeared  it 
all  over  his  face. 

Three  or  four  dabs  of  his  handkerchief,  and  he  was  a 
regular  sweep. 

The  powdered  cork  did  its  work  well. 

"  Ladies  an'  gemmen,"  said  Sunday,  on  his  legs  at  once. 
"Massa  Mole  promised  to  paint  hisself,  which  he  denies 
it  like  ;  but  don't  b'lieve  him,  he's  gwine  to  do  it  all  de 
while." 

"Haw,  haw  !  " 

"In  fack,  you  might  almost  say  as  he's  doin'  it." 

"Haw,  haw!" 

And  all  the  while  Mr.  Mole,  smiling  and  bowing  grace- 
fully, and  alternately  wiping  his  face  with  his  begrimed 
handkerchief,  was  utterly  ignorant  of  any  further  cause 
for  merriment  than  his  own  waggish  allusions  to  the  prac- 
tical joke  he  had  played  upon  the  darkeys. 


How  the  lecture  would  have  ended  there  is  no  saying, 
had  not  an  alarming  incident  occurred. 

A  telegram  was  brought  in  to  Mr.   Mole. 

It  was  from  New  York,  and  sent  by  Jack  Harkaway 
the  elder. 

"To ISAAC  MOLE,  Bedington  Farm. 

"  From  JACK  HARKAWAY,  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  New  York. 

"  My  Jack  has  disappeared.  Is  he  with  you  ?  If  not, 
we  fear  the  worst.  Pray  return  immediately.  We  are 
in  the  deepest  distress.  My  old  friend  Harvey  has  also 
disappeared." 

"Read  that,  Monday,"  said  Mr.  Mole  seriously,  "and 
then  pack  up." 
"Togo?" 
"Yes." 

"What's  de  matter,  brudder  Mole  ?  "  asked  Sunday. 
A  loud  wail  from  Monday  answered  his  query. 
"Oh!    my  Jack,    my  Jack,"    he  cried;  "  dem  danv 
4 


s  o  JA  CK  HARK  AWAY  ArtD  HIS  SON 'S 

vvillins  hev  got  him  ag'in.  Oh  !  my  poor  child,  why  did 
dis  miserable  old  nigger  come  away  and  leave  you? 
Willin,  and  traitor,  and  tief,  dat  I  is." 

They  were  all  back  again  in  New  York  by  the  first  train. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

JACK  HARKAWAY  SENIOR  was  at  the  railway  station  to  meet 
them  as  they  alighted  from  the  train. 
He  shook  them  all  eagerly  by  the  hand. 
"  He's  not  with  you  ?  "  he  demanded,  in  a  broken  voice. 
Mr.   Mole  shook  his  head. 

"Then,"  said  Harkaway,  falling  upon  Monday's 
shoulders,  "  the  last  hope  is  gone." 

And  the  big-hearted,  bold-hearted  Harkaway  gave  him- 
self up  to  his  bitter  grief.     The  last,  last  hope  was  gone. 
He  now  feared  for  his  young  Jack  and  his  dear  friend 
Harvey's  life. 

"  Forgive  my  weakness,"  said  Harkaway  presently; 
"  I  have  to  keep  such  a  bold  front  at  home,  that  the  effort 
has  overstrained  me.  If  his  mother  saw  me  give  away, 
she  would  die." 

"  When  did  he  disappear?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 
"  Within  an  hour  of  your  start,"  was  the  reply.      "  He 
went  with  Harvey." 

'  What  have  you  done  in  the  matter  ?  " 
'  Everything." 

Police  ? " 
'Yes." 

'  Offered  rewards  ?  " 
:Yes." 

'Do  you  suspect  anybody  in  particular?" 
'Nobody  but  our  old  enemies.     It  must  be  the  work 
of  Hunston  and  his  gang. 

"  We  must  all  put  our  heads  together,  "continued  Hark- 
away,  "and  try  what  we  can  think  of  to  recover  my 
Jack  and  my  old  friend  Harvey.  If  they're  alive,  we'll 
find  them." 

"We  will,  for  my  love  is  with  them  both,"  said  Mole. 
Mole  did  what  he  could  to  cheer  up  the  poor  bereaved 
father. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  51 

But  in  vain. 

He  was  not  to  be  comforted. 

"You  must  keep  up  a  good  face,  my  friends,"  Hark- 
away  said,  ' '  before  my  wife  and  the  ladies  ger,  erally.  It 
is  no  use  alarming  them." 

"True!" 

"Meanwhile,  my  dear  old  friend,  I  think  you  had 
better  not  see  Emily  or  Hilda  to-night." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  they  have  been  so  building  upon  ywung  Jack 
and  Harvey  being  with  you,  that  I  cannot  fio4  it  in  my 
heart  to  undeceive  them  to-night,  at  least." 

"  Very  good." 

"Take  heart,"  said  the  faithful  Monday,  whc  was  ready 
to  blubber.  "  Take  heart,  massa  ;  we  will  find  jack.  He 
is  so  dear  to  all  ob  us." 

"If  my  stumping  through  New  York,"  said  Mr.  Mole, 
"until  I  have  worn  my  timber  toe  down  to  tie  size  of  a 
cotton  reel,  will  do  it,  I  will  find  our  dear  Jack.  " 

"Heaven  bless  you,"  rejoined  the  heart-broken  Hark- 
away. 

"Cheer  up,  cheer  up,"  returned  poor  old  Mole,  swal- 
lowing his  tears,  and  wabbling  his  nose,  for  it  tingled 
with  grief.  "I  shall  find  my  boy  Jack  yet." 

"How?" 

"  That's  more  than  I  can  say  at  present." 

They  little  knew  the  great  danger  of  young  Jack,  or 
that  Dick  Harvey  was  at  that  moment  stricken  down 
near  to  death. 


Isaac  Mole  and  his  Chloe  were  lodged  in  the  same 
hotel,  but  in  a  remote  part  of  it,  in  order  that  Mrs. 
Harkaway  might  not  run  across  them. 

And  Mr.  Mole,  worn  out  by  his  day's  journey,  fell  fast 
asleep  and  dreamt  that  he  had  found  young  Jack. 

He  thought  that  the  boy  was  shut  up  in  an  oven,  with 
Nero  the  monkey,  and  that,  just  as  the  bakers  three,  who 
bore  a  wonderful  resemblance  to  Hunston,  Toro,  and 
Emmerson — were  about  to  heat  it,  and  bake  young  Jack 
alive,  he  came  to  the  rescue. 

It  so  frightened  Mr.  Mole  that  he  awoke  with  a  start. 

Then,  as  he  opened  his  eyes,  he  gave  a  loud  cry  of  alarm. 


52  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

'Chloe,  Chloe,  my  dear,  wake  up,  wake  up." 
'  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  his  black  wife. 
'What's-s-s  that  on  the  foot  of  the  bed,  my  dear?" 
'  Nothing. " 

'What !  "ejaculated  Mole,  "do  you  call  that  nothing:1 
Do,  pray,   look." 

"  I  see  nothing  ;  you  are  dreaming,   or,   perhaps  it  am 
your  wooden  leg  I  placed  at  the  bottom  of  de  bed." 

"Well,  if  I  ever.     My  dear,  do  pray  wake  up  and  look. 
It  is  not  my  wooden  leg.     Is  it  Nero,  or  is  it  the  old  gentle- 
man  himself  come  for  you,  my  dear?  " 
Chloe  looked  up  rather  frightened. 

Then  she  gave  shriek  one,  shriek  two,  and  dived  sud- 
denly under  the  bedclothes. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

IT  is  now  high  time  that  we  return  to  young  Jack  1 

Poor  Jack  ! 

So  soon  after  his  escape  from  the  woods  to  be  again 
threatened  by  a  cruel  death. 

Buried  alive  ! 

Bricked  up  in  a  chimney  by  his  implacable  foes,  the 
three  ruffians,  Hunston,  Toro,  and  Emmerson. 

This  surely  was  the  end  of  all. 

Hope  seldom  dies  in  the  human  breast,  it  has  been  said, 
yet  it  was  well-nigh  extinct  in  young  Jack's. 

The  faithful  Nero  evidently  understood  that  there  was 
danger,  for  he  nestled  closer  and  closer  to  his  master. 

"Good  Nero,  brave  Nero,"  said  young  Jack,  returning 
his  caresses,  "you  are  a  true  friend.  You  saved  me 
when  near  death  in  the  forest  tree,  and  may  once  more 
do  me  a  service." 

The  Monkey  whined  and  whinnied,  and  nestled  closer 
«ind  closer  yet  to  young  Jack. 

And  as  they  cuddled  up  together  thus,  young  Jack 
•aught  a  glimpse  of  daylight  overhead. 

He  looked  eagerly  up. 

Yes,  there  it  was,  sure  enough. 

The  chimney  shaft  was  nearly  str^^gUt..  so  that,   small 


ADVEN7URES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  55 

as  was  the  aperture  at  the  top,  it  let  in  a  good-sized  ray 
of  sunlight. 

"  If  I  could  only  reach  that,"  thought  young  Jack,  "  I 
could  escape." 

And  then  hope  began  to  revive. 

But  it  was  soon  over. 

He  soon  discovered  that  it  was  hopeless  to  attempt  such 
a  feat  of  climbing. 

"It  is  more  than  Nero  could  accomplish,"  said  young 
Jack. 

But  even  as  he  spoke,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  let  Nero 
try  it. 

He  sent  him  up  a  little  way,  and  Nero,  it  was  clear, 
could  mount  to  the  top. 

And  as  young  Jack  watched  him,  he  had  a  lucky  no- 
tion. 

"Nero,  old  boy,"  he  said,  "come  down." 

The  monkey  understood  as  well  as  any  Christian  could 
have  done,  and  he  did  more  than  many  Christians  do — he 
obeyed. 

"Now,  Nero,"  said  young  Jack,  "  I  am  going  to  trust 
you  on  a  very  serious  mission.  I  want  you  to  take  a 
letter  for  me  to  dad,  or  to  someone  at  the  hotel.  Do  you 
hear  ? " 

Nero  whined. 

He  understood,  an,d  this  was  his  response. 

Young  Jack  carried  a  pocket-book,  so  he  took  it  out, 
and  by  dint  of  a  great  deal  of  perseverance  and  guess 
work,  for  it  was  dark,  he  contrived  to  scribble  the  follow- 
ing note  to  his  father — 

"To  MR.  JOHN   HARKAWAY, 

"Fifth  Avenue  Hotel 

"  With  my  earnest  prayers  to  anybody  finding  this  note 
to  forward  it  immediatly  to  him. 

"  MY  OWN  DEAR  FATHER, — I  am  in  the  toils.  Hunston 
and  his  villanous  companions  have  caught  me  and  caged 
me.  I  fear  Mr.  Harvey  is  killed.  I  am  in  the  empty 
house  from  whence  Mr.  Jefferson  once  rescued  me,  buried 
alive,  bricked  up  in  the  chimney  on  the  first  floor.  May 
Heaven  preserve  my  life  until  you  come  and  rescue  me. 

"Your  unhappy  boy, 
"JACK." 


54  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

The  next  thing  was  to  secure  this  note  about   Nero's 

body. 

He  carried  a  ^mall  pincushion— the  gift  of  little  Emily 

in  his  waistcoat  pocket,  and  this  being  amply  furnished, 

it  came  in  just  handily. 

He  pinned  the  letter  to  Nero's  Jacket  and  then,  with 
many  a  pat  of  encouragement,  he  started  him  up  the 
chimney  again. 

And  as  Nero  climbed,  something  fell  from  his  pocket, 
and  clattered  upon  the  ground  by  young  Jack's  feet. 

It  was  a  knife. 

A  long,  slender-bladed  knife  Mr.  Nero  had  spied  in  the 
pocket  of  the  villain  Hunston,  and  boned. 

And  now  it  was  likely  to  prove  of  service  to  Jack. 

He  picked  it  up,  and  then  watched  Nero's  progress  in 
breathless  interest. 

It  was  not  easy  climbing. 

But  Nero  was  equal  to  the  task,  and  he  went  up  at  a 
great  rate. 

Once  at  the  top,  he  squeezed  through,  and  then,  squat- 
ting beside  the  chimney  pot,  he  leant  over  and  rammed 
his  head  in  again  to  take  a  farewell  look  at  his  young 
master. 

It  quite  shut  out  that  little  ray  of  light  for  the  mo- 
ment. 

"  I'm  glad  that  there  is  that  much  light,"  said  young 
Jack  to  himself ;  "it  would  look  horribly  like  the  grave  if 
that  little  bit  of  light  were  shut  out." 

Poor  boy  !   he  little  knew  what  was  in  store  for  him. 

And  this  little  light,  poor  as  it  was,  was  soon  to  be  de- 
\iied  him. 

While  Nero  was  there,  grinning  at  his  young  master, 
he  was  alarmed  by  a  noise  close  behind  him. 

The  poor,  faithful  monkey  could  not  understand  what 
was  said. 

But  the  voices  were  those  of  enemies,  and  so  Nero  made 
off. 

Gliding  along  the  parapet,  he  dodged  down  behind  a 
stack  of  chimneys. 

And  just  as  he  had  taken  up  his  position  to  watch  what 
was  going  on,  the  three  men  crept  over  the  roof,  and  made 
their  way  to  the  chimney  from  which  Nero  had  just 
emerged. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  55 

'This  is  the  chimney." 

'  Are  you  sure  ?  " 

'Yes.'' 

'  To  work,  then. " 

'  Where's  the  mortar  ?  " 

'Here  it  is." 

Emmerson  watched  without  rendering  any  assistance, 
and  as  the  work  proceeded,  he  criticised  its  utility. 

"  The  boy  is  safe  enough  where  he  is,"  said  Emmer- 
son. 

"  We  know  that." 

' '  Then  why  waste  your  time  in  blocking  up  the  chim- 
ney top  ? " 

"He  might  live." 

"Well?" 

"And  we  don't  exactly  want  that." 

"But  you  don't  want  him  to  die  at  once." 

"No." 

"What  then?" 

"  He  must  be  made  sure.  We  were  tricked  out  of  our 
revenge  in  the  wood." 

"There's  not  much  danger  this  time  of  his  being  dis- 
covered," said  Emmerson  ;  "but  you  seem  anxious  not 
to  cause  him  unnecessary  pain." 

"We!" 

"  Yes  :  if  it  is  a  question  of  humanity,"  said  Emmer- 
son, with  a  sneer,  "  all  well  and  good." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  "  growled  Hunston. 

"Simply  this,"  returned  Emmerson,  "that  by  closing 
the  chimney  in,  you  will  make  an  end  of  it  too  quickly. 
I  should  have  liked  the  brat  to  die  slowly  ;  for  him  and 
that  cursed  monkey  to  have  gnawed  at  each  other  and 
fought  when  the  pangs  of  hunger  were  on  them  hard,  and 
to  have  dragged  on  a  miserable  end.  That's  what  I  call 
vengeance. " 

' '  It  is — it  is  ! "  cried  Toro. 

"These  Harkaways  have  as  many  lives  as  a  cat,"  Hun- 
ston went  on  to  say ;  "and  if  we  left  him  half  a  loop-hole, 
he  might  escape  us  yet." 

"He  might,"  admitted  Toro. 

"  I  can't  see  how,  for  one,"  said  Emmerson. 

"No  matter;  let  us  make  sure.  'Safe  bind,'  you 
know." 


56  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"All  right." 

And  as  they  talked,  they  set  to  work  with  tiles  and 
mortar  to  end"  their  fatal  business. 

Young  Jack  saw  his  daylight  gone,  and  his  heart  sank. 

He  did  not  understand  it  at  first. 

His  idea  was  that  Nero  had  returned,  and  was  lolling 
over  the  chimney-pot  so  thoroughly  as  to  block  out  the 
light. 

But  he  could  not  deceive  himself  so  for  long. 

The  daylight  was  unmistakably  gone  and  with  it  all 
hope.  Alas,  poor  Jack  ! 

There  was  no  hope. 

None. 

"I  wonder  how  Nero  will  get  on,"  thought  young  Jack 
to  himself.  "  I  wonder  if  he  will  find  his  way  to  dad  or 
to  Mr.  Mole,  or  to  anyone  who  can  help  me." 

"Let  me  think,"  he  said  to  himself  again  and  again. 
"What  is  to  be  done  ?  " 

"The  wall  is  newly  built,"  he  thought  to  himself,  "and 
so  it  can't  be  very  strong." 

He  pushed  against  it  with  desperation,  but  he  might  as 
well  have  tried  to  move  the  Pyramids. 

Then  he  tried  to  bring  the  knife  which  Nero  had  let  fall 
into  use. 

He  dug  and  picked  at  the  mortar  with  great  persever- 
ance, until  by  dint  of  much  hard  work,  he  contrived  to 
insert  the  point  of  the  knife  into  the  mortar  between  the 
bricks. 

He  pushed  on  and  on  at  this  until  he  fell  asleep  over 
his  task,  and  forgot,  for  the  time  at  least,  all  his  troubles, 
and  forgot  even  that  he  had  been  entombed  alive. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

YOUNG  JACK  woke  up  with  a  feeling  of  stiffness  in  every 
joint,  and  an  alarming  hunger  upon  him. 

He  was  not  aware  for  a  moment  of  what  had  taken 
place,  but  he  soon  discovered  this  in  stretching  out  his 
hands,  for  he  grazed  his  knuckles  against  the  walls  of  his 
narrow  prison. 

This  was  a  forcible  reminder. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  57 

By  degrees  it  all  came  back  to  him. 

He  remembered  all  that  had  occurred  ;  poor  Dick  Har- 
vey stricken  down,  the  brutal  usage,  his  violent  abduction, 
and  finally  being  buried  alive  in  that  horrible  place. 

How  long  he  had  slept  he  had  no  idea,  for  it  was  pitch 
dark  when  he  fell  asleep,  and  it  was  equally  dark  now. 

Not  a  ray  of  light,  any  more  than  one  of  hope  !  Poor 
young  Jack ! 

He  little  thought  that  he  had  slept  for  fifteen  hours  at  a 
stretch. 

The  stillness  and  darkness  of  his  cell  had  lulled  him 
oft. 

It  was  night  when  he  dropped  off  to  sleep  ;  it  was  night 
now. 

Always  night ! 

"I  wish  I  had  slept  a  few  hours  more,"  he  said  to  him- 
self, "instead  of  waking  so  soon. 

"  I  could  then  have  forgotten  all  my  troubles. 

"  I  can't  help  myself  at  all;  as  it  is,  it  is  no  use  try- 
ing. 

"They'll  never  think  of  looking  for  me  here. 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  to  sleep  and  die." 

And  then  he  felt  very  much  inclined  to  weep. 

But  when  he  found  the  tears  rising  to  his  eyes,  he  felt 
ashamed  of  himself. 

So  he  drove  them  resolutely  back,  and  resolved,  come 
what  might,  to  die  like  a  brave  boy. 

What  was  he  doing  when  he  dropped  off? 

He  remembered  now  that  he  was  trying  to  pierce  the 
wall. 

He  thought  awhile,  and  then  by  degrees  he  recollected, 
too,  that  he  was  meeting  with  some  slight  encouragement 
when  sleep  had  conquered  him. 

"  Where  is  Nero's  knife,  though?"  was  his  next  ques- 
tion. 

He  groped  along  the  wall  until  he  came  across  the  han- 
dle, sticking  in  just  where  he  had  left  it. 

Then  young  Jack  fell  on  his  knees,  and  offered  up  a 
prayer  for  help. 

Poor  boy,  he  needed  help  in  that  dark  cell. 

Alone  and  shut  out  from  the  world. 

Springing  to  his  feet,  once  more  he  set  to  work. 

"  I'm  precious  hungry,"  ne  said  to  himself. 


58 

His  trouble  assumed  a  new  shape. 

He  would  die  of  starvation  beyond  all  doubt. 

He  set  to  work  with  redoubled  vigour  to  pick  away  the 
mortar  at  the  hole  in  the  wall,  until  it  suddenly  yielded  to 
his  pressure. 

He  drew  back  his  instrument,  and  then,  by  all  that  was 
lucky  !  there  was  daylight  through.  This  was  glorious. 

It  gave  young  Jack  heart  and  hope. 

He  forgot  hunger,  fatigue,  despair,  and  sucked  greedily 
at  the  draught  of  comparatively  fresh  air  which  the  aper- 
ture admitted. 

It  was  at  first  meat  and  drink  for  him. 

But  such  sustenance  could  only  suffice  for  a  short  time. 

After  awhile  the  old  pangs  of  hunger  returned. 

He  was  going  to  starve  ! 

Of  this  he  was  sure. 

Still  he  meant  to  die  hard. 

He  had  heard  of  sailors  wrecked  without  food  or  water, 
and  he  remembered  how  they  began  by  "  taking  in  a  reef," 
in  other  words,  by  tightening  their  waist  belts. 

He  profited  by  this  reminiscence. 

But  still  nature  would  not  be  denied. 

"  I  shall  die  soon,"  he  said  to  himself,  "and  what  will 
they  say  of  me  ?  Will  dad  say  that  I  was  a  thoughtless 
young  monkey,  and  disobedient  ? 

"Ah,  no  ;  poor,  dear  dad!  he  will  forget  my  bad  con- 
duct and  talk  only  of  my  good  qualities,  I  know  that 
well  enough.  And  ma,  and  little  Emily,  what  will  she 
say  ? 

"She  won't  think  much  of  me. 

"She'll  throw  my  gift  away,  and  as  for  hers " 

He  stopped  short. 

What  of  hers  ? 

What  had  he  done  with  it? 

She  had  given  him  a  box  of  chocolates,  you  will  remem* 
ber. 

He  had  it  still  with  him. 

He  fished  out  the  box  from  his  pocket. 

But  a  box  of  chocolates  is  only  a  small  stay  for  a  grow- 
ing boy. 

After  the  contents  of  the  box  were  all  devoured,  the  pangs 
returned,  and  although  he  fought  hard  against  them,  they 
were  too  much  for  him. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  59 

Slowly,  yet  surely,  he  drooped,  drooped,  and  sank,  and 
presently  he  was  powerless  to  help  himself. 

Three  days  and  three  nights  passed  in  this  way, 

On  the  fourth  day  poor  young  Jack  was  as  near  death  as 
ever  living  soul  was  yet. 

For  twelve  hours  he  had  done  nothing  in  the  way  of 
struggling  out  of  his  imprisonment. 

His  strength  was  gone. 

A  faint,  sickly  feeling  was  creeping  over  him. 

A  chilly  sensation  was  stealing  over  his  young  heart,  and 
a  nameless  dread  was  upon  him.  This  was  surely  death. 

"  Mother  !"  he  cried,  sinking  upon  the  ground  help- 
lessly ;  "  dear,  dear  mamma! — dear  father  ! — Emily,  dear  ! 
Oh  !  how  dreadful  to  die  so  young,  like  poor  Harry  Gird- 
Wood.  " 

And  then,  with  broken  phrases  of  prayer  upon  his  lips, 
poor  young  Jack  sank  senseless. 


CHAPTER  X. 

MRS.  MOLE  dived  under  the  bedclothes,  but  Mr.  Mole  was 
too  frightened  himself  to  allow  his  domestic  partner  to 
hide  away,  while  he  was  alone  to  face  the  danger,  if  there 
was  really  any  danger  to  face. 

"  Chloe,"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  still  wagging  his  one  leg  out 
of  bed  in  a  threatening  manner  at  the  supposed  dreadful 
object  at  the  foot  of  the  bedstead.  "Chloe  1 " 

"Ugh  !  "  grunted  his  partner  from  under  the  sheets. 

"Come  out." 

"  Nebber  !  "  replied  his  spouse. 

"Nonsense!"  said  Mr.  Mole,  severely.  "What  is 
there  to  be  afraid  of?  " 

"Nuffin'." 

' '  Just  my  sentiments.    Thenwhy  don't  you  come  out  ?  " 

"I  won't — I  won't ;  de  ugly  ting  come  for  you,  not  me." 

"  It's  ridiculous,  Chloe,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  his  teeth  chatter- 
ing with  fright. 

"Come  out,  do,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  imperatively. 

And  then  he  tried  to  rout  her  out. 

But  to  judge  from  his  manoeuvres,  in  trying  to  get  under 
the  bedclothes,  he  was  more  full  of  shielding  himself  from 


60  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

danger  than  of  convincing  Mrs.  Mole  that  there  was  noth- 
ing to  fear. 

In  fact,  not  to  disguise  the  facts  of  the  case,  he  got  as  far 
under  the  bedclothes  as  he  could  ;  and  when,  after  a  good 
twenty  minutes,  his  head  emerged  therefrom  and  looked 
about,  that  dreadful  vision  had  disappeared  from  the  foot 
of  the  bed. 

"Gone  !" 

Well  might  he  be  astonished,  for  it  was  indeed  amazing. 

How  that  weird  and  spectral-looking  visitor  had  con- 
trived to  disappear  so  effectually  it  would  be  difficult  to  say. 

Mr.  Mole,  however,  accounted  for  it  to  himself. 

"Gone!  Oh,  I  see,"  he  muttered  ;  "  it  was  all  my  fancy. 
But  it's  really  very  extraordinary  what  lengths  one's  fancy 
will  carry  one." 

And  he  crouched  down  in  the  bed  closer  to  Mrs.  Mole, 
and  covered  up  his  head  too. 

A  precious  old  humbug  was  Isaac  Mole. 

One  of  the  worst  of  humbugs,  for  he  tried  to  humbug 
himself. 

He  lay  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  so  that  his  wooden 
leg,  lying  at  the  bottom  of  the  bed,  rattled  against  the  end 
of  the  bedstead,  while  he  heard  someone  very  distinctly 
moving  about  the  room. 

And  yet  he  pretended  to  be  asleep  when  Mrs.  Mole  pop~ 
ped  her  black  head  out  and  called  his  attention  to  the  alarm- 
in-g  sounds. 

"  Mr.  Mole,"  said  his  fair  spouse ;  "  Isaac  !  " 

Never  a  word  from  Mole. 

He  was  too  artful  to  answer,  for  he  guessed  what  was 
wanted. 

He  would  be  expected  to  get  up  and  do  the  manly  thing 
— to  rout  out  the  intruder. 

' '  That's  all  very  well,"  said  Isaac  Mole  to  himself,  when 
it  occurred  to  him  in  this  light,  "  but  I  might  not  be  able 
to  carry  it  off  with  that  dash  that  one  is  accustomed  to 
associate  with  the  heroes  of  romance.  I  might,  in  fact,  be 
the  routed  out,  instead  of  the  router." 

"  Isaac  !  "  whispered  his  wife  from  under  the  clothes, 
nudging  him  again. 

He  could  keep  silent  no  longer,  as  she  now  began  to 
pinch,  and  if  there  was  one  thing  more  than  another  that 
worried  Mr.  Mole,  it  was  a  pinch  from  Mrs.  Mole. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  f>\ 

So  he  grunted — 

"  Eh,  dear  ?     What  now  ?  " 

"  Hush  !  Get  up  ;  there's  the  ole  gemman  hisself  here,'* 
said  Mrs.  Mole.  "Me  tink  him  must  want  you." 

But  Mr.  Mole  was  not  to  be  roused. 

Mrs.  Mole,  however,  was  possessed  of  the  great  virtue 
of  perseverance,  and  she  pegged  away  at  her  spouse  until 
he  could  no  longer  affect  not  to  hear. 

At  length  he  sat  up  in  bed  keeping  close  to  Mrs.  Mole, 
and  they  both  looked  about  them.  Nothing  was  to  be 
seen. 

The  cause  of  all  their  alarm  had  vanished. 

The  new-married  couple  looked  at  each  other  sheep- 
ishly. 

"Well,  dear?  "  said  the  artful  male  Mole. 

"Well,  dear,"  responded  the  female  Mole,  "  there's 
n  tiffin'." 

"Of  course  not." 

"Well?" 

"Well,  my  dear?" 

"What's  all  this  noise  for,  dear?" 

Humbug  again,  that  you  are,  Isaac  Mole,  and  pos- 
sessed of  what  an  elastic  mind  to  be  so  easily  made  up  to 
any  thing  you  may  wish. 

He  had  just  before  been  in  an  alarming  state  of  mind  on 
account  of  that  fearsome  sight  which  both  he  and  his  wife 
had  witnessed,  and  now  he  chose  to  look  upon  it  as  a  men- 
tal hallucination,  because  he  did  not  wish  to  be  made 
uncomfortable. 

"Of  course  it  was  nothing,"  he  said.  "  It  was  all  my 
fancy." 

"What  was?" 

"What?     Why,  that." 

"  Yes,  Isaac,"  returned  his  better  half ;  "  but  it  wasn't 
mine." 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear  ;  your  fancy  was  biassed  by  my 
own — that's  all." 

Mrs.  Mole  scratched  her  nightcap. 

"That  means  you  persuaded  me  to  think  the  same  as 
you  did  ? " 

"Well,  yes,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  involuntarily. 

"Then  that  couldn't  be  by  no  means." 

"Why?" 


6r  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Because  I  didn't  know  what  you  thought.  You  neber 
tole  me,  Isaac,  and  I  see  a  ghost  as  plain  as  possible,  so 
get  out  and  look,  and  when  you  got  him  tight,  tell  dis 
child." 

"What  was  it  like?"  asked  her  husband,  wishing  to 
gain  the  necessary  time  to  screw  up  his  courage  to  the 
sticking  place. 

"Half  like  de  old  one,  and  half  Jike  a  monkey." 

She  was  mistaken  in  this. 

The  ghostlyvisitor  was  good  deal  more  like  a  monkey. 

At  length  Mrs.  Mole,  growing  impatient,  and  partly 
reassured  herself,  slid  from  the  bed,  with  her  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  late  perch  of  that  grim  visitor. 

Isaac  Mole  could  no  longer  hang  back. 

He  stumped  down  on  to  the  floor  on  the  other  side  of 
the  bed. 

And  then  the  search  began. 

They  looked  everywhere — high  and  low — but  no  trace 
of  any  thing  or  anybody  could  be  seen. 

At  length  Mrs.   Mole  appeared  to  be  on  the  scent. 

"Hush  !  "  she  cried,  holding  up  her  finger  warningly. 

"What?" 

"A  noise  in  the  chimney, "responded  Mrs.   Mole. 

Mr.  Mole  listened,  and  surely  enough  there  came  sounds 
of  an  inexplicable  character  from  that  direction. 

So,  with  an  effort  of  courage,  he  advanced  to  make  a 
reconnoissance,  when  just  as  he  got  his  head  well  for- 
ward, there  was  a  scramble  in  the  flue,  and  down  came 
a  regular  cloud  of  soot. 

' '  A-chew  !  "  cried  Mr.  Mole,  suddenly  converted  into 
a  "man  an' a  brudder  "  much  more  promptly  than  by 
Sunday's  system  at  the  memorable  lecture. 

"A-chew  !  "  sneezed  his  spouse. 

And  they  kept  up  this  peculiar  duet  for  several 
minutes. 

After  awhile,  the  titillation  of  their  olfactories  ceased, 
and  the  cloud  of  soot  cleared  off. 

So  they  drew  carefully  nearer  to  the  chimney  again, 
and  then  Mrs.  Mole  gave  a  loud  cry  of  alarm. 

"What  is  it,  my  dear?"  asked  her  husband,  hanging 
back. 

"Lookup." 

Mr.  Mole  advanced  very  carefully  this  time,  and  he 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE   WORLD.  63 

was  just  soon  enough  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  long,  hir- 
sute tail  flick  along  and  disappear. 

"Good  Heaven  ! " 

"Oh,  mercy!" 

And  there  they  stood,  trembling  and  staring  at  each  other 
like  two  half  daft  people,  suddenly  stricken  with  palsy. 


Meanwhile,  Nero  careered  gaily  up  the  chimney  again. 

He  had  taken  alarm  at  the  aspect  of  Mrs.  Mole  in  her 
nightcap,  and  so  he  returned  by  the  way  he  had  come — 
up  the  chimney. 

This  was  the  explanation  of  the  whole  of  the  ghost 
mystery. 

Up  the  chimney  and  over  the  roof  went  Nero,  only 
pausing  for  the  luxury  of  an  occasional  flea. 

When  he  had  got  along  some  little  distance,  he  began 
to  look  about  him  for  a  new  chimney. 

He  had  no  great  liking  for  the  roofs,  and  he  had  been 
travelling  along  from  house  to  house  so  far  that  he  began 
to  have  quite  enough  of  it. 

The  corner  chimney  of  the  next  stack  took  his  fancy, 
so  he  dropped  over,  put  in  his  tail  carefully,  and  then 
followed  with  his  legs. 

Facilus  descensus  flue. 

He  found  it  easy  going  for  awhile,  but  presently  the 
atmosphere  of  the  chimney  appeared  to  change  and  get 
warmer  with  very  remarkable  suddenness. 

At  first  it  was  more  agreeable  than  otherwise. 

But  by  degrees  it  grew  to  be  too  warm  to  be  pleasant. 

Then  a  faint  smell  of  smoke  arose,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  few  minutes  it  grew  so  dense  that  Nero  was  well-nigh 
choked. 

He  squeaked,  and  sputtered  and  squealed,  and  then 
up  he  went  again. 

But  before  he  got  to  the  top,  it  so  far  overcame  him  that 
he  grew  suddenly  dizzy. 

The  consequence  might  be  anticipated. 

Up  there  went  such  a  volume  of  smoke  that  it  choked 
'he  unlucky  monkey,  and  down  he  came  with  a  run. 

He  scattered  the  fire,  and  frightened  them  all  half  out 
of  their  wits. 

The  occupants  of  the  room  started  back  into  the  dif- 


64  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

ferent  corners  of  the  room  as  Nero,  like  an  animated  ball 
of  soot,  rolled  into  the  room. 

Nero  jumped  up  and  squeaked,  and  then  shook  the 
soot  from  his  face. 

Those  present,  however,  appeared  to  recognise  him. 

' '  Nero  !  " 

A  general  chorus  of  astonishment  ensued. 

"Nero  !  "  said  everybody  in  a  breath. 

Nero,  having  shaken  his  vision  clear,  surveyed  the  com- 
pany. 

"It  is  my  Jack's  monkey,"  ejaculated  the  voice  of 
Harkaway. 

Nero  grinned. 

He  knew  him  well  enough. 

The  room  into  which  Nero  had  so  unceremoniously  in- 
troduced himself  was  the  sitting-room  of  Mrs.  Harkaway, 
young  Jack's  mother. 

The  calamity  which  had  just  befallen  the  family  had 
fairly  prostrated  her,  and  their  medical  adviser  had  or- 
dered her  to  keep  her  room. 

But  that  her  spirits  might  not  be  allowed  to  droop,  she 
was  to  keep  as  much  company  as  possible. 

And  so  there  chanced  to  be  there  present,  Emily  and 
Jack  Harkaway  the  elder,  Mrs.  Harvey,  and  Ada. 

"Poor Nero  !  "  said  Jack  Harkaway,  having  recovered 
from  his  first  surprise.  ' '  Nero,  where  is  your  young 
master  and  our  old  friend  Harvey?" 

"Ah,  he  can  tell  us,"  said  Emily,  with  eagerness. 

Could  he  ? 

Alas  !  we  believe  that  they  would  have  given  halt  their 
fortune — aye,  the  whole  of  it  if  they  could  have  invested 
Nero  then  with  the  gift  of  speech. 

"Nero,"  said  Jack,  "come  here,  my  intelligent  friend, 
and  let  us  know  what  has  become  of  my  boy." 

Nero  sat  upright  before  them,  surveying  the  company 
And  grinning. 

"  Perhaps  he's  hungry,"  suggested  Mrs.   Harkaway. 

He  was  too. 

You  would  not  long  have  remained  in  doubt  upon  that 
subject  had  you  seen  him  dispose  of  some  bread  and  a 
few  apples. 

While  Nero  was  enjoying  his  meal,  Mr. 
the  dwarf,  was  announced. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  65 

"  Show  him  in  at  once,"  said  Harkaway. 

The  little  gentleman  entered  with  a  downcast  face  that 
\  reflected  its  sadness  and  disappointment  in  Harkaway's. 

"What  luck  ?  "  demanded  Harkaway. 

The  dwarf  shook  his  head. 

"  None,  so  far." 

"And  Mr.  Jefferson  ;  where  is  he  at  present  ?  " 

"Outside."" 

The  fact  was  that  Mr.  Jefferson  had  so  signally  failed 
in  his  hunt  after  young  Jack  that  his  hope  was  gone. 

His  spirits  drooped  in  consequence. 

"Our  latest  idea  was  to  return  to  the  empty  house, 
where  they  once  forced  our  dear  boy,"  said  the  little 
gentleman. 

"  Why  there?  "  asked  Harkaway.  "  It  was  scarcely  a 
likely  place." 

"So  say  I." 

"Then  why  try  it?" 

"  Because  Jefferson  has  his  own  obstinate  views  upon 
the  matter.  Because  he's  as  difficult  to  move  as  a  mule. 
There's  no  doing  any  thing  with  him  if  once  he  gets  a 
fancy  into  his  head." 

"What  does  he  say  ? " 

' '  He  is  convinced  that  Jack  is  spirited  away  there  some- 
where ? " 

"Where?" 

"  In  the  house." 

"Impossible ! " 

"So  say  I." 

"  But  upon  what  does  he  base  his  fancy  ?  " 

"  He  says  that  he  is  sure  that  they  have  some  hiding- 
place  there — that  when  he  came  up  so  well  in  the  nick  of 
time  before,  they  were  about  to  stow  Jack  away  ;  but,  if 
you  remember,  the  villains  suddenly  made  their  escape." 

"  But  where  ? " 

"Precisely,"  said  Mr.  Brand;  "that's  what  I  say  to 
Jefferson. " 

"Well,  but  you  have  been  there  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  And  found  nothing? " 

"  Nothing." 

"Then  his  obstinacy  is  cured  at  last." 

Mr.   Magog  Brand  shook  his  head  and  laughed  sadly. 

5 


66  JA  CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Not  at  all.  That's  the  curious  part  of  it.  He  is  just 
as  positive  as  ever  that  young  Jack  is  stowed  away 
there. " 

"It  is  impossible  !  " 

"So  I  think,"  answered  the  dwarf,  pensively.  "  Yet 
Jefferson  is  cautious  and  bold.  It  seems  the  result  of  some 
strange  instinct — some  strange  inspiration,  more  than 
any  thing  else.  Why,  he  spent  half  an  hour  if  he  spent  a 
minute  in  the  room  where  he  rescued  young  Jack  before." 

"  The  same  room  ? " 

"The  very  same.  Yet  it  is  not  a  place  containing 
holes  and  nooks.  You  can  take  it  all  in  at  a  glance.  I 
have  told  him  that  it  is  impossible  that  any  thing  can  have 
occurred  there,  for  it  is  no  longer  the  deserted  house  it 
was.  The  builders  are  at  work  there.  In  the  very  room 
he  hovers  about  so  they  have  been  completing  some  of  the 
brickwork  I " 

And  the  brave  Jefferson  had,  in  his  search  for  young 
Jack,  been  so  close  to  him  that  his  hands  had  wandered 
a  dozen  times  over  the  newly-placed  bricks,  behind  which 
young  Jack  Harkaway  was  slowly,  yet  surely,  dying  of 
hunger  and  suffocation  ! 

"What  noise  is  that?"  asked  Harkaway,  looking 
towards  the  door. 

The  next  moment  the  door  was  burst  rudely  open,  and 
Mr.  Jefferson  strode  in.  dragging  Mr.  Mole  with  him. 

"A  letter  from  Jack  !  "  cried  the  big  American,  wildly  ; 
"look — a  letter  from  Jack  !  " 
The  ladies  shrieked 

Emily  turned  faint,  and  Harkaway  grew  as  pale  as 
death. 

'A  letter  from  Jack — my  Tack?  " 

'Yes." 

'Jefferson,"  said  little  Mr.  Brand,  "are  you  mad  ?" 

'  Mad  ? — no.  Here  is  the  letter,  and  our  good  friend 
Mr.  Mole  has  brought  it." 

'  Mr.  Mole  !  "  cried  Emily. 

'  Yes,  my  dear  lady. " 

'Is  this  true?" 

'  It  is.  " 

'Oh,  Mr.  Mole  !  "  exclaimed  young  Jack's  mother,  "I 
thought  my  boy  was  with  you.  But  it  is  at  any  rate  a 
consolation  to  find  you  have  some  news." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD,  67 

"News!"  iterated  Mole,  who  was  apparently  more 
then  half  stupefied  by  it  himself.  "I  have  a  letter." 

' '  Where's  the  letter  ?  Pray  give  it  to  me, "  said  Emily, 
with  eagerness. 

"Here  !" 

"Oh,  give  it  to  me — quick  !  " 

She  took  it,  scanned  it  through,  and  then  she  sank  back, 
as  though  overcome  by  what  she  had  read. 

Harkaway  took  the  letter  and  read  it  down  twice. 

He  was  amazed. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  this  was  the  letter  which  poor 
young  Jack  had  written  under  difficulties,  after  being 
bricked  up  in  the  chimney  of  the  empty  house. 

"Whom  did  this  come  from?  "  exclaimed  Harkaway, 
excitedly. 

"Who  brought  it?" 

"Yes,  yes,"  echoed  everybody  present;  "who  brought 
the  letter  ? " 

"Why,  don't  you  answer,  sir ?"  said  Jefferson  to  the 
tutor,  in  a  tone  of  remonstrance. 

"I  brought  it,"  answered  Mr.  Mole,  "and  it  was 
brought  to  me  by  a  ghost !  " 

"A  ghost  !" 

"A  what!" 

"  Nonsense. 

' '  An  evil  ghost, "  persisted  Mr.  Mole.  ' '  We  took  it  for 
the  devil  himself  because  of  his  tail,  which  we  caught 
sight  of  as  he  flew  up  the  chimney." 

But  Harkaway  began  to  see  the  real  state  of  the  case, 
and  his  views  were  confirmed  by  Jefferson,  who  cried, 
suddenly — 

"I  see  it  all  !" 

"You  do,  you  do  !  "  ejaculated  Emily.  "What  is  it  ? 
Oh,  pray  explain,  Mr.  Jefferson  !  " 

"I  will,  willingly.  Nero  brought  this  letter.  It  wants 
no  magician  to  tell  that ;  it  says  so  in  the  letter  itself. " 

"It  does  !" 

"True." 

"Goon." 

"Gently,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson  ;  "and  it  confirms  my 
views — my  obstinate  opinion,  as  my  friend  Magog  calls 
it." 

"Then  you  think " 


68  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"That  young  Jack  is  in  the  house  where  I  found  him 
before,  and  where  I  am  going  to  find  him  again." 

' '  Hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

And  before  they  could  utter  another  word,  Jefferson 
had  dashed  out  of  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  bom  Jefferson  was  a  man  of  action — not  of  words. 

He  set  to  work. 

Firstly,  he  set  two  or  three  persons  at  once  to  fetch 
picks  and  spades. 

At  the  same  time  he  had  a  cab  brought  to  convey  the 
party  to  the  scene  of  action. 

The  object  of  this  was  to  avoid  creating  any  unneces- 
sary sensation. 

In  less  than  twenty  minutes  they  were  upon  the  scene. 

He  led  the  way  quickly  upstairs  to  the  room  where  the 
unhappy  victim  was  bricked  up,  and  there  Jefferson,  after 
a  brief  glance  round  the  room,  pointed  to  the  fresh  brick- 
work. 

"Set  to  work  there  ;  lose  not  a  moment,"  he  said  to  his 
assistants. 

They  obeyed  readily. 

"Ply  your  pick  and  spade  quicker. 

"  Any  fool  might  have  guessed  as  much,"  said  he,  half 
to  himself;  "and  so  should  I  if  I  hadn't  let  myself  behalf 
persuaded  from  it  by  that  Magog,  idiot  that  I  was.  Poor 
boy — poor  boy  !  I  much  fear  he  is  dead." 

It  was  not  a  long  job  for  them. 

In  less  than  one-sixth  of  the  time  that  it  had  taken  the 
villanous  accomplices  to  build  up  that  hideous  tomb, 
they  had  dragged  it  down. 

And  when  they  had  got  it  sufficiently  demolished  to 
secure  a  firm  hold,  they  made  a  desperate  tug  at  it. 

But  it  held  firm. 

"Stand  away,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson  ;  "let  me  try." 

Then,  with  one  mighty  tug,  down  came  the  brickwork, 
and  there  a  heart-breaking  spectacle  stood  before  them. 

The  unhappy  young  Jack  was  livid. 

Death  was  fastening  on  him  rapidly. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  69 

Hunger  was  within  an  ace  of  completing  the  work. 

As  the  wall  gave  way,  he  gave  a  faint,  hollow  groan. 

The  pallor  of  death  was  upon  him. 

His  eyes  were  lusterless. 

His  lips  wore  the  hue  of  the  grave. 

Probably  a  few  minutes  more  would  have  settled  it. 

Suddenly  a  cry  arose  from  the  end  of  the  room. 

A  wail  of  heartfelt  anguish. 

"  My  boy,  my  boy  !     Oh,  my  poor  darling  Jack  ! " 

It  was  Harkaway. 

The  grief-stricken  father  would  have  burst  his  way 
through  them,  but  Jefferson  held  him  back  with  a  gentle, 
yet  resolute  hand. 

"Quietly,  Harkaway,  quietly,"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice. 
"Consider  the  dreadful  state  your  poor  boy  is  in." 

"  Let  me  take  him  in  my  arms,  Jefferson." 

"  Keep  back  !  " 

"  Unhand  me,  I  say,  Jefferson,"  said  Harkaway,  grow- 
ing indignant  in  his  impatience.  "Would  you  insult 
me  ?  '*' 

"  No,  Harkaway  ;  you  know  that  well." 

"Then  I  say " 

"Patience!  I  will  not  let  you  or  any  man  kill  our 
poor  boy  by  folly  or  imprudence  until  all  that  can  be 
done  has  been  tried  to  save  him." 

"Kill  him?" 

"Yes." 

"  What  mean  you  ? " 

"Can't  you  see?" 

"No." 

"  Then  wait  till  the  doctor  comes." 

He  had  been  sent  for,  and  just  then  he  put  in  an 
appearance. 

"Good  Heaven  !  "  exclaimed  the  man  of  skill,  startled 
out  of  his  accustomed  calmness  by  such  an  unwonted 
spectacle.  "  Who  can  have  done  this  ?  " 

"Fiends — devils!"  answered  Jack's  father,  wringing 
his  hands.  ' '  Oh,  would  that  I  had  them  in  my  clutch 
now  ! " 

"  Calm  youself," said  the  doctor,  reprovingly.  "There 
is  life  here,  and  that  is  all.  It  hangs  upon  a  thread. " 

"  Is  he  in  great  danger?  "  asked  Harkaway,  eagerly. 

The  doctor  nodded. 


•jo  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  I  will  not  answer  for  the  consequences,"  he  replied, 
gravely,  "if  he  his  rudely  disturbed.  True  affection  is 
shown  more  in  the  restraint  which  one  puts  upon  one's 
feelings  than  in  noisy  demonstrations.  The  least  shock 
may  kill  him." 

"Trust  me,  then." 

"Hush!" 

The  doctor  took  a  small  bottle  from  his  pocket,  and  un- 
screwed the  stopper  with  mathematical  precision,  as  he 
said  in  a  whisper — 

"See,  he  has  fainted.       He  may  go  off  in  that  state." 

Who  shall  describe  the  torture  that  poor  Harkaway  suf- 
fered, upon  hearing  this  fatal  opinion  give  in  such  a 
way  ? 

To  be  restored  to  his  brave  boy,  only  to  know  that  the 
slightest  accident,  any  moment,  might  snatch  him  away 
again,  was  indeed  agonising. 

Hunston  had  indeed  part  of  his  long-sought  revenge  on 
Harkaway  at  that  moment. 

They  had  to  wait  and  watch. 

The  doctor  placed  a  phial  to  the  poor  boy's  nostrils,  and 
held  it  there  with  considerable  patience  for  a  time. 

Presently  there  was  a  slight  twitching  of  the  face,  and 
the  doctor  looked  up  at  Harkaway. 

There  were  evident  signs  of  satisfaction  in  the  doctor's 
face. 

"He  lives  yet,"  he  whispered  to  Harkaway. 

The  nostrils  of  the  patient  dilated  faintly — then  came  a 
gentle  sigh. 

The  doctor  took  the  phial  from  his  nostrils,  and  applied 
it  to  his  mouth. 

A  single  drop  of  this  sent  a  thrill  through  the  suffering 
boy's  frame  from  head  to  foot. 

He  opened  his  eyes. 

Harkaway  was  about  to  rush  forward  again,  when  the 
doctor  restrained  him  with  a  warning  glance. 

Jack  looked  about  him  in  a  half-dazed  manner. 

"  Here,  my  boy,"  said  the  doctor,  "taste this." 

Some  weak  brandy  and  water  had  been  brought,  and 
young  Jack  sipped  at  this,  and  at  each  sip  his  strength 
recovered. 

His  expression  grew  less  vacant  by  degrees,  and  his 
eyes  glistened 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  71 

His  senses  were  returning  rapidly. 

The  first  face  his  eyes  rested  upon  was  his  father's,  and 
with  a  smile  of  recognition,  he  murmured — 

"Father!" 

It  was  half  playfully  done,  half  sadly. 

Then,  looking  up  again,  he  cried — 

"Dad!" 

"  My  boy  ! — my  boy  !  "  faltered  poor  Harkaway. 

"Are  you  cross  with  me  still?  You — it  wasn't  my 
fault — I  fought  hard.  They  were  three  against  me,  after 
striking  down  poor  Harvey." 

He  sank  back. 

The  effort  was  too  much  for  him,  and  it  took  the  doctor 
some  few  minutes  to  bring  him  round  again. 

"Tell  dad  not  to  be  cross,"  said  young  Jack. 

"I  won't  tell  him  anything,"  said  the  doctor,  with 
an  assumption  of  sternness  he  was  very  far  from 
feeling,  "unless  you  promise  to  be  very  calm  and 
quiet. " 

"I  will— I  will." 

"Then  I  daresay  Mr.  Harkaway  will  forgive  you, 
though  damme  if  I  know  for  what,"  he  added,  under  his 
breath. 

The  next  moment  Harkaway  was  kneeling  on  the 
ground  beside  his  boy,  and  there  father  and  son,  once 
more  united,  mingled  their  tears. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IT  was  some  time  before  they  could  venture  to  move  the 
unfortunate  boy. 

But  when  once  they  could  get  him  back  home,  his  re- 
turn to  health  was  not  a  very  long  job. 

Now,  it  was  about  a  fortnight  after  the  events  just  nar- 
rated that  one  evening,  just  towards  dusk,  the  Harkaway 
family  were  all  assembled,  talking  over  the  strange  fate 
and  absence  of  Dick  Harvey. 

"Poor  Harvey,"  said  Harkaway,  in  reply  to  Emily. 

At  this  moment  three  visitors  were  announced. 

They  proved  to  be  Mr.  Nabley  and  his  brother  detec- 


7  2  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

tive,  Daniel  Pike,  in  company  with  young  Harry  Gird, 
wood. 

"You  mentioned  Mr.  Harvey,"  said  Pike.  "I  have 
news  of  him. '' 

"  Tell  us  quickly  then,"  said  Jack,  for  Hilda  had  retired 
a  few  minutes  before. 

"  It  took  me  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  find  him,  but  at 
length  I  managed  to  discover  the  chamber  where  he  was 
lying  apparently  at  death's  door. 

"I  had  him  moved;  a  first-rate  physician  has  restored 
him,  and  here  he  is." 

At  the  word  Dick  rushed  into  the  room  and  greeted  his 
old  friends. 

"But  where  is  Hilda  ?  "  he  asked,  looking  round. 

"Not  far  off,"  said  Emily. 

In  a  few  minutes  more  all  were  happily  reunited,  and 
the  detectives  retired  with  a  handsome  reward,  taking 
young  Girdwood  with  them. 

The  latter  was  the  inseparable  companion  of  the  two 
English  detectives  now. 

He  devoted  himself  to  hunting  down  the  murderers  of 
his  beloved  brother  Oliver. 

His  whole  life  was  devoted  to  it. 

Now  it  fell  out  that  soon  after  that  alarming  encounter 
in  the  woods  which  young  Jack  and  his  monkey  had  with 
Hunston  and  Toro,  Harry  Girdwood  went  to  the  scene  of 
the  strife  one  night  to  take  observations. 

His  object  was  clear. 

The  Bowery  gang  had  mysteriously  fled. 

Disappeared. 

But  where  ? 

He  held  a  very  decided  opinion  that  the  Bowery  gang 
intended  sailing  away  with  Captain  Clemmans. 

The  time  for  their  departure  was  not  yet  up. 

Meanwhile,  they  had  some  hiding-place. 

Harry  Girdwood  hovered  about  the  wood  night  and 
morning. 

And  at  length  his  perseverance  was  rewarded. 

He  came  upon  three  of  the  party  unexpectedly. 

Hunston  was  one. 

Toro  was  another. 

The  third  man  he  had  some  difficulty  in  recognising  at 
first. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD,  73 

It  was  Protean  Bob. 

It  was  here  that  these  desperadoes  lurked  and  skulked 
away. 

Harry  Girdwood  crept  into  the  thick  brushwood  close 
to  their  very  feet. 

It  was  a  dangerous  game  to  play. 

But  he  thought  of  his  poor  murdered  brother,  and  nerved 
himself  up  for  the  task. 

'Have  you  got  any  news,  Emmerson?"  asked  Hunston. 
'  When  shall  we  go,  then  ?  " 
'  That  you  can  know  to-morrow  if  you  like." 
'  What  hour  ?  " 
'  I  cannot  say,  but  early." 

'  Will  you  bring  us  the  news  ?  "  demanded  Toro. 
'No,  I  have  to  be  elsewhere,  and  I  want  one  of  you  to 
go  on  a  message  for  Clemmans,  down  Broadway.     I  think 
you  had  better  do  that." 
I?"  said  Hunston. 
'Yes." 
'  Why  ? " 
'  Toro's  big  body  is  a  sort  of  landmark,  and  is  likely 


to 


betray  both  himself  and  us." 


:True." 

'  Very  good,"  said  Toro  ;   "  then  I'll  be  here." 
'Clemmans's  messenger  will  whistle  as  he  crosses  the 
water. " 

"Very  good  ;  I  will  answer." 

And  after  this  they  separated. 

Then,  when  the  coast  was  clear,  Harry  Girdwood  crept 
out  of  his  hiding  place,  and  hurried  off  to  Fifth  Avenue, 
where  he  sought  first  Nabley  and  Daniel  Pike  the  detec- 
tives. 

To  them  he  confided  all  that  he  had  heard. 

And  then  a  grand  expedition  was  organized. 

The  two  detectives  and  Harry  Girdwood  went  off  to  lay 
Hunston  by  the  heels. 

Harkaway,  Harvey,  Jefferson,  Magog  Brand,  the  two 
darkeys  and  young  Jack  went  after  Toro. 

" To  which  party  shall  I  attach  myself?"  asked  Mr. 
Mole. 

' '  Why,  sir  ?  "  said  young  Jack. 

"Why,  because  I  must  do  my  share,"  replied  the  tutor, 
pompously. 


74  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"In  what  respect,  sir?  "  demanded  his  pupil. 

"It  is  likely  to  inspire  the  enemy  with  a  wholesome 
fear,  in  fact,  great  dread,  when  he  hears  my  name." 

Young  Jack  stuffed  his  handkerchief  into  his  mouth  to 
stifle  his  laughter. 

"Yes,  Jack,  my  boy,  I  shall  first  Lid  farewell  to  Mrs. 
Mole  ;  for  as  I  shall  tackle  this  giant  brigand  single-han- 
ded, I  think  it  better  to  say  farewell  to  my  dear  wife,  in 
case  I  should  not  return  alive. " 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Mole  !  "  cried  Jack,  "  no  fear.  You'll  return 
to  Mrs.  Mole  all  alive,  all  alive,  oh  !  " 

Mr.  Mole  made  up  his  mind  to  go. 

And  go  he  did. 

"You  know,  Jack,"  said  he  to  his  pupil,  ''these  scenes 
of  activity  are  my  proper  sphere." 

"Indeed,  sir." 

"Yes,  I  never  shine  to  such  advantage  as  when  in  a 
scrimmage  of  some  kind." 

"I  should  not  have  believed  it,  sir,"  responded  young 
Jack,  comically,  "unless  you  had  told  me  yourself." 

Mr.  Mole  was  cross. 

"And  why  not?  Do  you  then  take  me  for  a  cow- 
ard ? " 

" Good  gracious,  no." 

"I  should  hope  not,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  with  dignity, 
"In  my  earlier  days,  I  earned  some  not  unmerited  dis- 
tinction, at  least,  so  the  world  has  been  good  enough  to 
say,  by  my  address  in  action.  Many's  the  man  I  have 
laid  low  with  this  powerful  arm,  Jack,  my  boy." 

"Indeed,  sir." 

"One's  reputation  is  sure  to  cling  to  one.  I  shall  go  ;  in 
all  probability  I  may  be  of  very  signal  service,  and  perhaps 
be  the  means  of  saving  all  your  lives." 

"I  am  glad,  sir,  you  will  go." 

"Yes,  my  dear  boy,"  replied  the  great  Mole;  "fear 
not,  for  in  the  hour  of  danger  my  courage  and  power  shall 
make  Toro  the  giant  tremble. " 

And  the  noble  Mole  departed,  leaving  young  Jack  to 
explain  to  his  father  Mr.  Mole's  intention  of  fighting  the 
brigand  single-handed. 

They  started  before  daybreak,  and  crossed  the  water  as 
quietly  as  possible. 

They  had  not  long  to  wait. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  75 

Toro  was  eager  to  learn  the  news,  and  got  to  the  ap- 
pointed spot  before  the  time. 

Just  as  he  arrived,  he  heard  a  whistle  from  the  water. 

"They're  here,"  said  the  Italian,  half  aloud. 

Toro  took  a  whistle  from  his  pocket,  and  blew  the  an- 
swering call. 

It  echoed  shrilly  in  the  forest  for  awhile. 

Then  something  whizzed  through  the  air. 

Before  he  could  utter  a  word,  a  rope  flew  over  his  head, 
and  as  it  dropped  to  his  elbows,  it  tightened. 

There  was  a  jerk,  and  down  he  was  dragged  by  the 
lasso,  which  had  been  so  dexterously  thrown  over  him  by 
Magog  Brand. 

A  moment  more,  and  the  murderer  and  brigand  was 
surrounded  by  the  whole  of  the  Harkaway  party. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CAUGHT. 

CAGED  at  last. 

The  brigand  struggled  and  wrestled  like  a  second  Sam- 
son. 

But  it  would  have  taken  something  more  than  the 
strength  of  even  that  hero  to  have  broken  his  bonds. 

The  assembled  enemies  of  the  brigands  formed  a  for- 
midable muster. 

On  every  hand  stood  a  foe. 

Here  was  Sunday,  holding  a  hatchet  ready  to  bury  its 
ugly  blade  in  the  prisoner's  head  should  he  contrive,  in  his 
desperate  struggles,  to  set  himself  free. 

Beside  Sunday  stood  young  Jack,  covering  the  writhing 
giant  with  a  pistol. 

Next  to  young  Jack  stood  our  old  friend  Isaac  Mole, 
armed  with  a  pistol  in  each  hand,  two  pistols  in  a  belt 
round  his  waist,  and  a  long  sword  by  his  side. 

But  Mr.  Mole  was  evidently  in  doubt  about  his  own  ad- 
dress in  the  handling  of  firearms,  for  he  held  them  at  arm  s 
length  and  averted  his  gaze. 

Had  they  chanced  to  explode,  it  is  probable  that  he 
would  have  done  more  damage  to  his  own  party  than  to 
the  prisoner. 


y  6  /<4  CVi-  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Next  to  Mr.  Mole  stood  Dick  Harvey,  still  pale  and 
weak  from  Toro's  attack,  and  Jack  Harkaway. 

And,  although  Toro  saw  all  this,  he  struggled  on. 

Had  he  been  unfortunate  enough  to  wriggle  himself  free 
from  his  cords,  he  would  have  been  done  to  death  before 
he  could  have  stirred  from  the  spot. 

But  luckily  for  him,  he  could  not. 

Little  Magog  Brand  came  up  just  then  with  Monday. 

"  Now,  friends  all,"  he  said,  with  so  cheerful  an  air  that 
no  one  could  have  anticipated  the  proposition  which  he 
was  about  to  make  ;  "  shall  we  get  the  noose  ready  ?  " 

Toro  heard. 

This  was  evident  enough,  for  the  words  sank  deeply 
into  his  soul. 

They  meant  to  hang  him. 

He  felt  sure  that  his  fate  was  sealed  when  once  he  was 
trapped,  yet  the  thoughts  of  death  by  strangulation  were 
dreadful  to  him. 

The  Italian  ruffian  was,  of  course,  no  coward. 

No,  he  was  brave  enough  in  his  way. 

Yet  his  courage  was  of  that  peculiar  cast  which  would 
lead  him  to  face  death  in  action — meet  the  most  formid- 
able foes  you  could  find  him — aye,  even  at  the  cannon's 
mouth,  but  he  could  not  meet  his  fate  coolly  as  a  Briton 
or  a  Yankee  would. 

He  turned  livid. 

"Shall  we  hang  de  lief,"  asked  Monday,  " or  shall  we 
tie  him  up  and  roast  him  fust?  De  big  beast  roast  well." 

There  spoke  the  savage. 

Long  intercourse  with  the  Harkaways  had  smoothed  it 
down,  you  see,  but  could  not  entirely  eradicate  the  nat- 
ural instincts  of  the  ex-Prince  of  Limbi. 

' '  Let's  tie  um  up  and  whip  um  a  bit  ?  "  suggested  Sundav. 

"No." 

"Only  a  little  bit,  Massa  Harkaway,"  pleaded  the 
darkey. 

But  Harkaway  would  not  hear  of  it. 

"We  are  not  wild  Indians,  nor  are  we  savages,"  said 
he.  "  He  has  earned  his  death  and  die  he  must,  but  we 
are  civilised  people,  and  cannot  put  a  fellow-creature  to 
death  by  torture." 

The  silence  of  the  surrounders  showed  clearly  enough 
that  they  entirely  agreed  with  this  sentiment. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  77 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  him  ?  "  said  Harvey. 

"Burn  him  like  a  ole 'possum  up  a  gum  tree,"  sug- 
gested Sunday. 

"Tie  him  up  by  his  toes  to  a  tree,"  added  Monday. 
"  De  big  villain  tie  Massa  Jack  up,  and  put  bullet  in  dis 
child's  ribs." 

"  Let  us  hang  him,"  persisted  Magog  Brand.  "And  do 
it  at  once  to  get  the  vermin  out  of  our  sight." 

Toro  scowled  at  the  speaker. 

He  could  have  almost  met  his  fate  with  resignation,  if 
he  could  but  have  annihilated  the  dwarf  first. 

"True,"  said  Harkaway.  "Mr.  Brand  is  right;  but 
should  we  not  give  him  up  to  justice?  " 

" Justice  is  here.     Shall  he  hang?" 

*' Remember,  Massa  Harkaway,"  said  Monday,  "de 
big  brute  nearly  kill  Massa  Jack  twice,  and  perhaps  him 
do  it  quite  third  time." 

"  Well,"  said  Harkaway  ;  "  he  has  lived  like  a  cur,  he 
has  warred  against  boys  and  women,  and  no  enemy  has 
been  too  small  for  him.  Let  him  hang  like  a  rabid  cur  ; 
he  deserves  his  fate." 

Toro  writhed. 

Every  vein  in  his  huge  carcase  swelled  with  his  mighty 
struggles  to  free  himself  from  bondage. 

His  face  and  forehead  grew  purple,  until  it  was  hideous 
to  look  upon  him,  for  you  would  have  expected  each 
moment  to  see  the  blood  start  from  his  eyes  or  nostrils. 

This  was  torture. 

His  more  civilised  captors  did  not  understand  torture 
according  to  the  Limbian  programme,  nor  as  the  darkey's 
African  brother  would  suggest. 

But  they  tortured  him  far  worse  than  any  physical 
agony  could  possibly  have  done. 

The  scathing  contempt  they  showed  for  him  ate  into 
his  very  soul. 

You  have  often  seen  how  he  writhed  under  the  biting 
tongue  of  his  fellow  ruffian  Hunston. 

How  much  more,  then,  must  he  have  suffered  now  ? 

Now,  curious   to   relate,  amidst   all  this    bitter    hatrec 
shown  to  the  captive  giant,  the  one  person  who  felt  in- 
clined to  relent  was  the  one  who  had  been  the  greatest 
sufferer  from  his  violence. 

Young-  Jack. 


78  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

He  was  not  squeamish. 

He  did  not  fear  the  sight  of  blood,  but  he  could  not 
endure  to  contemplate  such  utter  helplesness. 

He  would  not  have  cared  had  Toro  fallen  in  fight. 

But  there  was  a  grim  solemnity  about  the  condemning 
a  fellow-creature  to  death  in  cold  blood,  which  horrified 
the  boy. 

' '  We  are  all  agreed  ? "  demanded  the  dwarf. 

"Yes." 

Every  voice  responded  with  the  fatal  monosyllable 
"Yes." 

That  "Yes"  sounded  in  Toro's  ears  like  a  death-knell. 

The  miserable  man  fought  hard  with  his  feelings. 

He  shuddered  in  spite  of  himself. 

Now  came  the  fatal  order — 

"  Get  ready  the  rope." 

The  heart  of  the  man  mountain,  this  mammoth  tyrant, 
sank  down  to  his  very  heels. 

He  bit  his  tongue  and  clenched  his  teeth  to  prevent 
their  chattering. 

"  Hyar's  de  rope,  massa,"  said  Sunday  ;  "  I's  made  a 
'evingly  noose  ;  me  show  it  him." 

"Yes,  let  him  see  it,"  cried  Monday  ;  "it  am  better 
rope  and  stronger  dan  him  use  for  poor  Massa  Jack  in  de 
woods." 

Toro  shut  his  eyes. 

At  any  rate,  he  would  not  look  at  this  hideous  thing 
which  was  to  choke  the  breath  of  life  out  of  him. 

So  he  thought.     So  he  resolved. 

But  think  you  he  could  keep  to  this  purpose  ? 

No,  struggle  as  he  would,  it  had  a  fatal  fascination  for 
him,  and  he  was  forced  to  open  his  eyes  to  look  upon 
the  cool,  deliberate  preparations  being  made  for  his  own 
execution. 

"  Let  me  see  the  rope,"  said  Harkaway. 

"Here,  sar." 

He  took  the  rope  and  tried  the  noose  against  his  knee 
as  hard  as  he  could. 

And  as  he  tugged,  the  fear-stricken  wretch  upon  the 
ground  drew  mental  agonising  pictures  of  the  rope  about 
his  own  throat,  and  thought  how  he  should  look  as  his 
face  was  convulsed  with  the  death-agony. 

But  Harkaway  never  thought  of  this. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


79 


His  sole  purpose  was  to  see  that  the  noose  was  prop- 
erly made,  and  that  the  doomed  man  should  not  suffer 
any  unnecessary  pain. 

It  slipped  a  little  way  and  then  it  stopped. 

''Sunday." 

"Yes,  sar." 

"Come  here." 

"Yes,  sar." 

The  negro  approached,  hanging  his  head. 

"This  will  not  do,  Sunday,"  said  Harkaway. 

' '  Why  not,  sar  ?  " 

"Why  not?  You  know  why  not  ;  it  would  slip  half 
way,  and  thus  cause  him  endless  agony." 

"Him  not  die  too  quick,  sar,"  said  Sunday;  "die  a 
little  bit  at  a  time  like,  nice  and  comfortable." 

In  spite  of  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  they  could 
not  help  forgiving  Sunday's  idea  of  making  their  enemy 
die  "  nice  and  comfortable." 

"  Let  it  be  properly  done,"  said  Harkaway  sternly." 

"Yes,  sar." 

The  cheerfulness  with  which  he  assented  made  Harka- 
way still  have  his  misgivings. 

"I  have  already  said  once,  Sunday, "he  said,  "that we 
don't  want  to  torture  him.  We  want  to  put  him  out  of 
the  way  of  doing  more  mischief,  as  we  would  kill  a  scor- 
pion or  any  other  venomous  reptile,  but  we  will  not  have 
him  put  to  any  unnecessary  pain." 

"Yes,  sar." 

The  making  of  the  noose  was  taken  out  of  Sunday's 
hands,  and  personally  superintended  by  Magog  Brand. 

It  was  tested  fairly  and  found  to  be  satisfactory. 

"Ready." 

The  rope  was  thrown  across  the  branch  of  the  nearest 
tree.  Toro  turned  faint. 

"Up  with  him  !" 

They  got  about  him,  and  lifted  him  from  the  ground. 

Sunday  got  his  hand  down  the  prisoner's  neckcloth, 
and  contrived  to  give  him  a  wrench  or  two  that  became 
each  instant  more  and  more  unendurable. 

"Aha,  Massa  Toro  poro  !  "  said  the  negro,  kicking  up 
his  legs  gleefully  ;  ' '  take  that  and  that !  " 

And  "that,"  we  can  assure  you,  was  not  pleasant. 

As  Sunday  had  dropped  upon  a  place  which  caused  the 


8o  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

prisoner  the  liveliest  agony,  he  did  not  fail  to  profit  by 
it. 

He  pressed  harder  and  harder  there,  and  Toro  yelled 
with  pain  until  Harkaway  interfered. 

"That  is  against  orders,  Sunday,"  he  said,  sharply. 

"Him  a  dam  tief,  sar,  and  he  make  dis  chile  smell 
pertiklar  agony  on  him  nose  once,  sar,  in  de  hotel,  and 
now  dis  chile  give  him  toko  !  " 

He  did  it,  too. 

Toko  being  administered — whatever  "toko"  might 
be — the  unhappy  prisoner  yelled  with  pain. 

"  Cry  out,  you  cuss  ! — you  polecat ! — you  wiper  ! — you 
rat !  " 

At  each  epithet  he  gave  Toro  some  little  proof  of  his 
attention. 

"Brave  savage  !"  exclaimed  Toro,  bitterly,  "worthy 
of  your  brave  masters.  You  can  torture  a  prisoner 
when  he  is  well  tied  up,  and  when  you  are  at  least  ten  to 
one. " 

"Sunday,"  said  Harkaway,  sternly,  "  unless  you  desist, 
you  shall  not  stay  here. " 

"All  right,  massa." 

And  then  he  gave  him  a  final  dig. 

It  was  a  good  one  too. 

Toro  turned  deadly  pale  with  rage. 

"Brave  men,"  he  said,  with  a  sneer  of  profound  con- 
tempt, "bold  hearts  !  Why,  if  I  had  my  arms  free,  you 
would  fly  for  your  very  lives — aye,  all  of  you,  craven 
curs  !  " 

"Oho  !  "  laughed  Magog  Brand. 

"Be not  so  boastful,"  cried  Harvey.  "  Did  you  not  in 
a  most  cowardly  way  take  advantage  of  me,  and  strike 
me  brutally,  when  helpless,  and  on  the  ground  ?  If  you 
had  been  a  brave  man,  you  would  have  stood  before  me 
on  equal  terms." 

"True,"  said  Harkaway,  "he  is  a  coward,  for  he  was 
one  of  three  that  tried  to  take  the  life  of  a  young  boy. " 

"So  I  know  to  my  sorrow,"  said  young  Jack.  "  But  I 
wouldn't  have  him  tortured,  brutally  as  he  used  me." 

"  You  are  about  as  humane  as  the  rest  of  them,"  re- 
torted the  giant,  with  a  sneer. 

"Let  him  go,"  said  young  Jack.  "  He'll  promise 
never  to  molest  us  any  more. " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  8 1 

"  He'll  promise,  perhaps,"  said  Harvey,  "but  we  know 
how  much  he  would  keep  to  his  word." 

"Come,  we  are  losing  time,"  said  the  dwarf. 

The  rope  was  got  ready. 

The  end  was  thrown  over  the  tree. 

The  noose  was  around  the  brigand's  neck. 

"  If  you  have  any  last  wish  to  make,"  said  Harkaway, 
"any  prayer  to  utter,  now  is  the  time.  You  must  die, 
Toro,  but  I  would  not  endanger  your  future  life  as  well  as 
this." 

He  changed  colour. 

But  never  a  word  escaped  him, 

The  last  moment  was  near. 
'Sunday." 
'Yes,  sar." 

'  Take  the  end  of  that  rope." 
'  Yes,  sar. " 
'  Be  ready." 
'  Quite  ready,  Massa  Harkaway.     Shall  I  pull  up  ?  " 

It  was  shocking  to  hear  his  cheerful  voice  as  he  said 
this. 

Not  one  could  have  dreamt  that  he  was  talking  of  send- 
ing a  fellow-creature  out  of  the  world. 

"You  have  nothing  to  say  ?"  asked  Harkaway  of  the 
brigand. 

Not  a  word. 

A  slight  gnawing  of  the  lips. 

A  faint  shudder  shook  his  frame. 

Otherwise  you  would  scarcely  have  known  that  the 
doomed  man  was  cognisant  of  what  was  going  on. 

A  pause. 

"  Sunday,"  said  the  dwarf,  in  dull,  solemn  tones,  that 
inspired  the  listeners  with  awe,  "  ready  !  " 

Sunday  gave  a  tug,  the  rope  strained,  and  Toro  the 
p^ant  was  swinging  in  the  air. 


Suddenly  a  loud  and  stern  voice  was  heard. 
"Stop  that !  " 
The  speaker  was  Jefferson. 
He  had  been  quiet  for  some  time. 

'Then  the  huge  American,   with  a  stroke  of  his  knife, 
6 


82  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

severed  the  rope,  andToro  dropped  on  to  the  ground,  con- 
siderably frightened, but  little  hurt. 

"I'm  not  going  to  look  on,  and  see  a  man — well  not  a 
man — a  skunk  like  that  wiped  out  in  cold  blood." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"I  won't  have  it.     Get  up,  Toro." 

The  latter  obeyed. 

"  Hark  you,"  said  Jefferson.  "You  are  an  outrageous 
— the  biggest  villain  I  ever  came  across,  but  you  shall 
have  a  chance  for  your  life." 

The  Italian's  face  lighted  up  at  this. 

"  Do  you  hear  me — a  chance  for  your  life  ?  " 

"Yes?" 

"Then  answer  me  quickly,"  retorted  Jefferson,  "or  I'll 
leave  you  to  the  rope.  Have  you  any  courage  left  ?  " 

"  More  than  the  rest  of  the  company  put  together,  it 
strikes  me,"  replied  Toro,  sullenly. 

"Modest  man,"  said   Magog  Brand,  with  a  dry  laugh. 

"Well,  my  friend,"  said  Jefferson,  "now  here's  a 
proposition  for  you.  You  can  have  your  choice. " 

"Speak." 

' '  You  can  be  hanged  if  you  like,  or  you  can  be  set  free 
and  fight  it  out. " 

"With  all  ?  Well,  you  are  almost  enough  for  me,"  said 
Toro,  looking  around  him. 

"  I  don't  mean  with  all,"  answered  Jefferson,  "only 
with  one." 

"Which?" 

"  Me." 

"Humph!" 

The  brigand  looked  just  a  little  bit  uneasy. 

"It  was  undeniably  a  joyous  thing  to  escape  death 
upon  any  terms,  and  such  a  death. 

But  Toro  had  once  a  slight  brush  with  Jefferson,  you 
remember. 

And  the  recollection  of  it  was  anything  but  pleasant. 

In  all  his  life,  he  had  encountered  but  one  single  man 
with  whom  he  feared  to  cope. 

This  man  was  Jefferson,  the  American. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  consent." 

"  You  will  fight  for  your  life? " 

"I  will." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  83 

It  was  reluctantly  given. 

It  was,  however,  a  matter  of  choice  between  two  evils. 

Bad  as  he  was,  he  naturally  regarded  this  as  the  least. 
'Set  his  arms  free,"  said  Jefferson,  coolly. 
'  At  this  point,  Harkaway  thought  it  high  time  to  in- 
terfere. 

'Jefferson,"  he  said,  "  this  must  not  be." 
'  Why  not  ?  " 

'  Because  it's  tempting  Providence. " 
'  How  ? " 

'  He  is  delivered  into  our  hands,  and  you  have  no 
right  to  run  any  risk  in  the  matter.  I  feel  that  it  is  quite 
lawful  to  put  the  villain  out  of  the  way  of  doing  furthei 
mischief." 

"That's  my  intention,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  grimly, 
"  only  I  like  to  do  it  in  my  own  way,  that's  all.  I  don't 
like  murder ;  it  doesn't  agree  with  my  notions  at  all. " 

"  But  why  should  you  risk  your  life?  He  has  done  me 
more  harm  than  you,  and  if  he  must  fight  for  his  life,  let 
me  be  the  man  that  tries  strength  and  skill  against  him," 
cried  Harkaway.  "And  I  say " 

"Say  nothing,  Harkaway,"  replied  the  other,  interrupt- 
ing him,  "  for  it  will  make  bad  blood  between  us  if  you 
interfere.  It  will  sever  our  friendship  altogether." 

This  was  enough. 

Harkaway  liked  Jefferson  too  well  to  press  the  matter 
further. 

"Cut  the  cords." 

This  was  obeyed. 

"Stand  clear,"  said  Jefferson,  "and  give  us  plenty  of 
room  and  no  favour.  Now  clear  away." 

This  was  done. 

The  two  darkies  climbed  up  into  the  branches  of  a 
tree,  from  which  they  commanded  an  excellent  view  of 
the  scene. 

"  Harkaway, "  said  the  Kentuckian. 

"Yes." 

"You  have  heard  the  understanding  between  us;  my 
word  must  be  attended  to." 

It  shall." 

"  If  he  gets  the  best  of  it,  he  is  to  go  free. " 

"Very  good." 

"And  I  know  you  will  not  go  against  this,  my  wish." 


34  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"As  it  is  your  wish,  Jefferson,  of  course  not." 

"  Very  good." 

Toro  glanced  about  him  with  a  restless  look,  which, 
however,  did  not  escape  the  lynx-eyed  Kentuckian. 

"If  he  should  attempt  to  bolt,  you  will  shoot  him 
down  as  remorselessly  as  if  he  were  a  rabid  dog." 

"We  will." 

"Stand  clear,  then." 

"Now  then,  Sign  or  Toro,  when  you  are  ready. 

This  was  a  moment  of  breathless  interest. 

The  Italian  closed  his  eyes  in  a  semi-sleepy  manner, 
and  peered  at  his  adversary  through  his  lashes. 

He  waited  a  moment,  hoping  to  take  him  off  his  guard. 

Then,  as  Jefferson  turned  his  head  for  a  moment  to- 
wards Magog,  the  huge  Italian  came  at  him  like  a  bull 
that  he  got  his  name  from. 

Jefferson  was  ready,  however. 

He  stepped,  back,  drew  in  his  right  arm,  and  then,  as 
Toro  came,  he  shot  it  out  full  at  him  with  his  whole  force. 

A  dull,  heavy  thud  followed,  and  Toro's  huge  frame 
quivered  all  over. 

It  steadied  him  in  his  headlong  rush — dazed  him. 

As  he  shook  his  head,  half  stunned  at  that  steam  ham- 
mer, you  could  see  upon  his  forehead  the  signs  of  such  a 
blow  as  would  have  put  an  end  to  you  or  any  smaller 
man  upon  the  instant. 

"Ugh!" 

"Bravo,  Massa  Jefferson,"  cried  Sunday,  up  in  the 
tree. 

"  Dat  was  a  stinger,"  said  Monday. 

It  was  indeed  a  doughty  blow,  and  Toro  did  not  appear 
to  want  any  more  of  the  kind. 

"Come  along,  Toro, "  said  Jefferson;  "  there  is  more 
waiting." 

Toro  paused,  but  quickly  went  at  it  again. 

Jefferson  put  his  fists  up,  and  as  Toro  got  within  shot 
again,  he  let  fly. 

Toro  guarded  wildly,  but  Jefferson  planted  his  blows 
just  when  and  where  he  pleased. 

And  he  pleased  to  plant  them  pretty  well  all  over  that 
huge  carcase. 

One,  two,  and  one  on  the  chest. 

"Bang  !  "  cried  Sunday,  in  absurd  delight. 


ADVENTURES  ROfJND  THE  WORLD.  85 

"  Dat's  done  him  good  !  " 

The  sight  of  his  own  blood  made  the  brigand  furious. 

He  rushed  upon  Jefferson  with  the  fury  of  a  wild 
beast. 

And  much  to  the  surprise  of  all,  Jefferson  fell  to  the 
ground,  borne  down  by  the  great  force  of  the  brigand's 
powerful  blow. 

But  before  he  could  throw  himself  on  Jefferson,  the 
latter  was  on  his  feet,  and  by  a  straight  hit  from  the 
shoulder  he  drove  Toro  back. 

Spank  ! 

One  on  the  cheek. 

Ding  dong — two  more  in  sharp  succession. 

"Postman's  knock,"  cried  Jefferson,  laughing. 

The  jeers  of  the  two  niggers  made  the  Italian  mad. 

He  made  another  rush  at  the  American,  and  closing 
with  him  suddenly,  again  brought  him  with  a  heavy  thud 
to  the  ground. 

Quick  as  thought  Jefferson  was  up  and  the  brigand 
down. 

Toro  went  at  it  again  and  again,  vainly  endeavouring 
to  close  with  his  adversary. 

But  each  time  he  got  a  fresh  visitation  of  an  alarming 
kind. 

The  brigand's  blood  flowed  freely. 

Jefferson  had  shown  the  spectators  something  which 
they  had  by  no  means  been  prepared  for. 

He  was  a  splendid  boxer. 

Words  cannot  describe  the  pent-up  fury  of  the  pas- 
sionate Italian  giant  at  the  bitterness  of  the  humiliation 
thus  put  upon  him. 

Goaded  finally  on  to  utter  madness  by  the  jeers  of  the 
two  niggers  in  the  tree,  he  gathered  himself  together  for 
one  mighty  effort. 

Ducking  his  head  to  avoid  the  sledge  hammer  fists  of 
ihe  terrible  American,  he  rushed  at  him,  intending  to  butt 
him  in  the  stomach. 

Jefferson  waited  for  him. 

Then  stepping  aside  in  the  very  nick  of  time,  he  swung 
his  clenched  fist  round,  caught  him  fairly  upon  the  ear, 
and  stretched  him  senseless  upon  the  ground. 


86  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"BRAVO  !" 

"Hurrah!" 

"Three  cheers  for  Mr.  Jefferson  !  "  cried  young  Jack. 

"  That  last  was  a  most  elegant  chop,"  said  Mr.  Mole, 
who  had  been  shivering  with  fright  behind  a  tree  from  the 
moment  that  they  had  cut  the  brigand's  bonds,  "  most  ele- 
gant. I  declare  it  almost  reminds  me  of  myself  in  my 
best  days." 

"You're  pilin'  it  on,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jefferson,  smiling. 

"I'm  sincere,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  blandly.  "That  was 
one  of  my  favourite  hits." 

"Indeed." 

"Fact,  sir." 

"That's  quite  true,"  said  young  Jack,  maliciously.  "I 
remember  that  you  taught  Mr.  Pike  that  hit  when  you 
gave  him  boxing  lessons  on  board." 

"Eh,  what?" 

He  did  not  like  that  hint. 

He  felt  sure  that  young  Jack  must  be  laughing  at  him. 

So  he  sang  small  at  present. 

The  Italian  lay  still,  motionless,  insensible. 

"  Get  him  some  water." 

The  darkies  did  not  care  to  move  from  their  perches  to 
help  the  brigand. 

Magog  Brand  ran  for  water  and  dashed  it  in  his  face. 

Slowly  he  revived. 

They  washed  the  blood  from  his  face  and  head  and 
helped  him  to  rise. 

"Now,  Signer  Maccaroni,"  said  Jefferson,  "do  you 
think  you'll  be  more  civil  in  future  ?  " 

Toro  hung  his  bruised  head. 

"  You  have  earned  the  right  to  scoff  me, "  he  said  bit- 
terly ;  "laugh  on." 

"  I  don't  want  to  laugh " 

' '  Oh,  you  can  ;  you  have  it  all  your  own  way.  But 
in  my  country  we  don't  consider  it  generous  to  rail  at  a 
beaten  foe." 

"Nor  here,  either." 

"So  it  appears,"  muttered  Toro,  bitterly., 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  87 

"The  scoundrel,"  ejaculated  Harvey.  "Does  he  ex- 
pect generous  treatment?  Why,  where  would  any  one  of 
us  have  been  had  the  conditions  been  reversed  ?  Supposing 
any  one  of  us  had  been  in  the  power  of  your  gang,  what 
mercy  would  you  have  shown  ?  Consideration,  you  un- 
blushing vagabond  1 " 

Every  word  Harvey  said  was  full  of  reason. 

What  indeed  would  have  been  the  fate  of  any  unfortu- 
nate individual  who  had  fallen  into  their  clutches  ? 

They  had  shown  often  enough  what  mercy  they  could 
show. 

"You  can  laugh  at  your  triumph,"  said  Toro,  "but  it 
is  not  so  great  after  all." 

"Indeed." 

"Oho!" 

"No,  indeed." 

"And  why? " 

"Yes,  why?  "  asked  Magog  Brand.  "I  am  curious  to 
hear  what  new  impudence  the  rascal  has  to  advance." 

"  We  are  not  used  to  fight  like  that,"  said  Toro,  "  like 
savages.  This  is  your  American  civilisation." 

"Beg  pardon,  Signer  Maccaroni,"  said  Jefferson,  with 
a  good-humoured  laugh,  "nothing  of  the  kind.  That's 
British.  I  inherit  that  by  instinct,  by  virtue  of  English 
blood,  from  my  English  mother,  God  bless  her  !  " 

"Your  mother " 

"Now,  silence!"  said  Jefferson,  peremptorily,  "for  if 
you  let  your  foul  tongue  utter  one  syllable  against  my 
mother,  you'll  get  goss,  I  promise  you.  You  mayn't  like 
my  English  instincts,  but  by  gum,  sir,  you'll  relish  my 
American  instincts  still  less,  I  reckon." 

"  In  civilised  lands  men  fight  otherwise." 

"How?" 

"With  that." 

He  pointed  here  to  a  bowie  knife  which  Magog  carried 
in  his  belt. 

"Are  you  better  at  that  than  the  other?  "  inquired  Jef- 
ferson, carelessly. 

Toro's  eyes  glistened. 

"You  wouldn't  care  to  face  me  if  I  had  that  in  my 
hand." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  should." 

"Bah!" 


88  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  How  d'ye  spell  it  ?  "  asked  the  American,  with  comic 
contempt. 

"Give  it  me  and  try/' 

"Willingly,"  said  Jefferson,  calmly.  "Magog,  give  it 
to  him." 

Magog  obeyed. 

Yes,  to  the  unutterable  horror  and  dismay  of  most  of 
the  spectators,  they  absolutely  armed  the  formidable 
Italian  with  a  knife. 

Jefferson  the  same  instant  plucked  out  his  own  bowie, 
and  stood  upon  guard. 

"I'll  not  permit  this,"  said  Harvey. 

And  he  would  have  rushed  forward. 

But  the  dwarf  held  him  back. 

"Stand  back,  Mr.  Harvey,"  he  said,  sternly.  "  If  you 
dare  to  meddle  in  it,  you'll  get  our  man  spiked  by  that 
giant." 

"Oh,   Mr.    Brand,    Mr.    Brand!"    exclaimed   Harvey; 
"this  must  not  be  allowed." 
'  What  ?  " 

'What  have  you  done  ?  " 
'  Nothing. " 

'Jefferson  will  be  stabbed — killed  perhaps." 
'  Don't   you   worry  yourself.     Jeff  has   shown  you  a 
taste  of  his  quality.     Now  you  just  wait  a  bit." 

"Toro,"  said  Jefferson,  "this  is  your  last  chance  ;  let 
nothing  distract  your  attention,  for  I  warrant  I  shall  take 
every  advantage  this  time.  Your  eye  and  your  strong 
hand  must  save  you,  if  you  are  to  be  saved  at  all." 

Toro  grunted  out  an  ungracious  reply. 

Then  he  proceeded  to  take  off  his  neckerchief  and  bind 
the  knife  to  his  hand  with  it. 

The  same  office  was  meanwhile  performed  for  Jefferson 
by  his  trusty  friend  the  dwarf. 

"Settle  it  quickly,  Jeff,"  said  Magog  Brand. 

"Very  good." 

It  was  amazing  to  hear  the  cool  way  in  which  they 
spoke  it. 

Anyone  would  have  thought  they  were  speaking  of 
slaughtering  a  lamb  or  some  helpless  animal,  instead  of 
facing  a  formidable  and  armed  enemy. 

"Now  then,  Toro,"  said  Jefferson,  are  you  ready? 
Look  out — guard." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  89 

"Look  to  yourself,"  cried  the  brigand,  fiercely  ;  "this 
time  the  game  is  against  you. " 

"Come  on,"  said  the  American  ;   "  you  waste  time." 

It  was  a  desperate  sight  to  behold. 

Two  huge  men,  armed  with  deadly  weapons,  ready  to 
drink  each  other's  life  blood. 

It  was  a  fearsome  sight  to  see  them  crouching  and 
creeping  round  each  other,  with  their  eyes  fixed  with 
fierce  intensity  on  each  other's. 

Each  waiting  to  spring. 

Involuntarily  it  called  up  descriptions  of  the  gladiatorial 
combats  in  the  Roman  arenas  of  old. 

Slowly,  cautiously  they  trod  the  ground. 

The  lookers-on  held  their  breaths  in  suspense. 

"Hah!" 

An  involuntary  gasp  of  fear  from  the  whole  of  the 
spectators. 

"Look,  look!" 

"He's  down  !  " 

Jefferson  had  stumbled  over  something. 

Toro  the  giant  was  upon  him  instantly. 

But  Jefferson,  catching  himself  nimbly,  had  only  fallen 
upon  one  knee,  and  quick  as  an  eye  could  wink,  he  was 
upon  his  guard. 

As  Toro  bored  in  with  uplifted  knife,  he  caught  his 
wrist. 

Then  with  a  mighty  effort  he  dragged  himself  up. 

And  now,  in  the  space  of  twenty  seconds,  there  ensued 
a  scene  of  such  pent-up  excitement  as  baffles  description. 

Jefferson  struck  as  he  rose,  but  being  taken  somewhat 
at  a  disadvantage,  the  Italian  with  a  dexterous  jerk 
twisted  the  knife  fairly  out  of  his  hand,  and  sent  it  flying. 

Fear — a  deadly  fear — was  expressed  in  every  face. 

Their  gallant  champion  was  worsted. 

Harkaway  was  about  to  step  forward,  but  was  stopped 
by  Jefferson's  loud  voice — 

"  Keep  back,  keep  back !  " 

"Wait!" 

"The  fight  is  not  yet  over." 

Jefferson  had  shown  how  he  could  fight  on  equal  terms. 

He  now  showed  how  he  could  fight  in  the  face  of  dis- 
aster. 

He  grappled  his  colossal  enemy  boldly. 


90  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Gave  him  one  mighty  hug-,  then  lifting  him  fairly  off  his 
legs,  he  threw  him  over  his  hip  on  to  the  ground. 

In  such  a  way  was  it  done,  that  when  the  Italian  meas- 
ured his  length  upon  the  ground,  his  own  knife  was  seen 
buried  up  to  the  very  hilt  in  his  side. 

The  fight  was  over.  They  ran  in,  and  closed  round  the 
ex-brigand.  Not  a  sigh — not  a  breath.  It  was  all  over. 

"There,"  said  Jefferson,  adjusting  his  disordered  dress 
in  the  coolest  manner  in  the  world;  "that's  over,  and  I 
don't  think  that  that  skunk  will  worry  us  any  more." 

Toro,  the  brigand  and  murderer,  had  indeed  this  time 
met  with  more  than  his  match  in  the  brave  American. 

' '  Your  American  and  English  blood  seem  to  mingle  well 
together,  Jefferson,"  said  Harkaway,  advancing.  "You 
are  indeed  a  fine  representative  of  two  nations  mingled  in 
one. " 

"Right,  Harkaway,"  cried  Jefferson  ;  "  and  you  are  a 
fine,  bold  Englishman.  Give  me  your  hand." 

And  then  the  American,  with  the  grip  of  a  vice,  seized 
the  hand  of  Jack  Harkaway. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OUR  friends  gazed  in  silence  on  the  Italian  brigand  for 
some  time. 

"  It  is  a  just  fate  for  the  villain,"  said  Harkaway,  after 
a  long  silence  ;  "but  what  shall  we  do  with  the  body  ? " 

"Oh,  leave  the  fellow  here,"  said  Jefferson.  "I  dare- 
say sone  of  the  gang  will  find  an  opportunity  of  giving  the 
body  decent  burial." 

Then  Harkaway  and  his  friends  returned  home,  after 
casting  in  silence  one  more  look  at  the  brigand. 


Mr.  Mole's  nerves  being  out  of  order,  he  was  recom- 
mended to  take  sea  baths. 

So  a  short  trip  was  got  up  to  an  adjacent  watering  place. 

It  was  upon  the  occasion  of  Mr  Mole's  second  sea  bath 
that  he  met  with  an  adventure. 

Sunday  used  to  drive  the  whole  bathing  party,  consist- 
Ing  of  himself  and  brother  Monday,  young  Jack  and  Mr 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  91 

Mole,  down  to  the  particular  spot  of  the  coast  where  they 
were  in  the  habit  of  taking  their  daily  dip. 

On  the  first  morning,  they  were  just  nearing  the  bath, 
ing  place,  when  suddenly  there  was  a  rush,  a  deep,  baying 
sound,  and  a  huge  hound  bounded  over  the  hedge. 
What  a  fine  fellow  !  "  exclaimed  young  Jack. 
'  Beau'ful !  "  added  Monday.      "  Big  as  a  donkey." 
A  very  fine  Newfoundland,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  putting 


in 


tiis  eyeglass. 


Eh! 

What?"  added  Monday,  with  a  grin. 

'Mr.  Mole  is  not  'doggy,'"  explained  young  Jack; 
"he  doesn't  know  the  difference  between  a  bloodhound 
and  a  Newfoundland." 

The  laugh  that  this  created  put  Mr.  Mole  upon  his  dig- 
nity at  once. 

"Master  Harkaway,"  said  he,  grandly,  "  I  have  kept 
Newfoundlands  and  bloodhounds  too,  before  you  were 
born  or  thought  of." 

<(  Indeed,  sir." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  poodles  and  terriers  too,  as  well  as  grey- 
hounds, staghounds,  foxhounds ;  in  fact  every  kind  of 
hound.  No  man  was  more  '  doggy,'  as  you  were  pleased 
to  call  it." 

"I  should  never  have  thought  it,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  No, you  are  a  thoughtless  youth,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"True,  sir." 

The  bloodhound  came  bounding  up  to  the  side  of  the 
trap. 

"Keep  off,  you  ugly  debil,"  said  Sunday. 

"  Moderate  your  language,  you  nigger,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Dat  Tiger  am  berry  exceedingly  damn  dangerous, 
brudder  Mole. " 

"  Pish !"  said  Mr.  Mole;  "pshaw  and  tush  likewise. 
Tiger,  indeed !  " 

"Yes,  sar;  Tiger." 

"Bloodhound. 

' '  Tiger's  the  animal's  name,  brudder  Mole. " 

Just  then  the  dog  jumped  up,  and  made  a  snap,  seem- 
ingly at  Sunday's  legs. 

Sunday  gave  a  howl  and  dropped  the  reins. 

They  were,  however  very  promptly  caught  by  Monday, 
who  whipped  up  and  drove  on  rapidly. 


92  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

But  Tiger  was  not  to  be  shaken  off. 

He  bounded  after  the  trap,  barking  in  a  way  that  ap- 
peared to  frighten  poor  Sunday  out  of  his  seven  senses. 

"You  craven-hearted  crew,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "what  is 
there  to  be  afraid  of?  " 

"Tiger." 

"He  shan't  hurt  you.  If  you  are  afraid,  I  will  tackle 
the  creature  single-handed,  and  drive  him  off,"  said  the 
brave  Mole. 

"  He  eat  you,  sar. " 

"That  'ere  damn  cannibal,  bruclder  Mole,  eat  three 
niggers.  Him  a  reg'lar  ole  nigger  hunter,  and  he  like  the 
smell  ob  nigger's  flesh.  He  want  to  taste  dis  chile,  I  'se 
sure. " 

"Rubbish!" 

"He  do,  he  do." 

Tiger  barked  and  jumped  up,  slily  encouraged  by  Mon- 
day, and  Sunday  appeared  to  grow  more  and  more 
alarmed  at  every  step. 

"There,"  said  Isaac  Mole,  looking  about  him,  "there 
you  see  the  infinite  superiority  of  the  white  over  the 
coloured  races  ;  fancy  a  white  man  being  afraid  of  a  dog  !  " 

"  Fancy,"  echoed  young  Jack,  who  smelt  fun  afar  off. 

"Though  that  dog  might  have  eaten  forty  niggers,  I 
should  think  no  more  of  tackling  him  than  of  playing  with 
a  pet  poodle.  Here  boy  !  hi,  boy  !  here  !  here  !  " 

He  held  out  his  hand  over  the  side  of  the  cart,  but  when 
the  bloodhound  jumped  up  at  him,  he  withdrew  it  very 
sharply. 

"And  so  they  say  he  has  eaten  a  nigger? "said  Mr. 
Mole. 

"  Yes,  sar." 

"A  whole  nigger?" 

"Ebery  morsel,  sar." 

Mr.  Mole  smiled  superciliously  at  this. 

"He  must  have  a  wonderful  digestion,  for  my  part,  I'd 
sooner  have  a  nice  dinner  of  shark  or  toasted  crocodile, 
than  the  tenderest  nigger  that  was  ever  raised." 

"  Or  a  donkey,"  suggested  young  Jack. 

"Yes,  or  a  donkey." 

"  Dat  looks  as  if  Massa  Mole  was  a  cannibal  too,"  said 
Monday,  readily. 

Young  Jack  laughed  heartily  at  this,  but  at  the  same  time 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  93 

he  explained  to  Monday  that  he  was  mistaken  in  calling 
Mr.  Mole  a  cannibal  because  of  his  preference  for  donkey, 
inasmuch  as  cannibalism  meant  eating  one's  own  species. 
"Dat's  it,  Massa  Jack,"  said  Monday. 
"Donkey  am  Mr.  Mole's  speechy  ;  yah,  yah  !  " 
At  this  moment,  a  turn  in  the  road   brought  them  in 
sight  of  a  low  hut,  at  the  door  of  which  stood  the  very 
man  with  the  gun  whose  sudden  appearance  up  the  road 
with  the  bloodhound  had  so  startled  the  party. 
He  had  returned  across  country. 
"  Hi,  Tiger  !  Tiger  !  "  he  called. 
The  dog  ran  off  immediately. 
'  Are  we  near  the  rocks  ? "  asked  young  Jack. 
'Close  by,"  replied  the  man  with  the  gun. 
'You  have  a  fine  dog  there." 
'I  have  !  and  as  good  as  he's  handsome." 
'  Dangerous  ?  " 
'  Sometimes." 
'  Bark  much  ?  " 
'No,  he  bites." 

'  Only  bites  ?  "  said  young  Jack  laughing. 
'I  didn't  say  only  bites.     He  worries  and  gnaws." 
'  Would  he  pull  down  a  man  ?  "  asked  young  Jack. 
'Some,"  replied  the  cottager,  significantly. 
'  He  could  tackle  a  nigger  ? " 

'A  nigger  !  "  replied  the  man,  grimly  ;   "a  dozen." 
This  confirmed  what  Sunday  had  said. 
So  Mr.  Mole  thought  that  it  would  be  as  well  to  pro- 
pitiate both  dog  and  master. 

So  he  held  out  a  bit  of  biscuit  at  Tiger,  who  first  glanc- 
ed at  his  master  for  permission  to  take  it,  and  then  he 
jumped  up  and  snapped  the  biscuit  out  of  Mr.  Mole's 
hand  so  suddenly  that  the  latter  drew  back  his  hand  much 
quicker  than  he  had  advanced  it 

It  was  rather  curious  to  remark  that,  although  Sunday 
had  professed  to  be  so  frightened  of  the  bloodhound,  he 
got  out  of  the  trap  and  walked  past  him  to  the  rear  of  the 
cottage,  where  an  old  woman  was  engaged  grubbing 
about  a  bit  of  garden  ground. 

"  I  see  you've  got  Tiger  still,  Mrs.  Gubbins,"  said  Sun- 
day. 

The  old  woman  stared  hard  at  Sunday  for  a  minute 
before  she  recognized  him. 


94  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

' '  What,  that  you,  Jex  ?  " 

"Yes,"  said  Sunday,  "  dat  me,  Liz  Gubbins. " 

"What  on  airth,  sar,  you  dewing  here?"  asked  Mrs. 
Gubbins.  ' '  Come  down  our  parts  agin  ?  " 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Gubbins,"  replied  Sunday,   "for  a  spell." 

Then  he  whistled  shrilly  once  or  twice,  and  the  blood- 
hound Tiger  came  bounding  round  to  the  back  of  the 
house. 

"  Tiger,  Tiger  !  "  said  Sunday  ;  "  don't  you  know  your 
ole  friend?" 

The  dog  sniffed  about  for  a  minute  and  then  whinnied 
in  token  of  recognition,  and  caressed  the  negro  in  a  way 
that  would  have  astonished  Mr.  Mole,  who  had  heard 
him  described  as  a  sort  of  natural  enemy  to  coloured 
folks. 

"You  don't  forget,  do  you,  Tiger?  " 

The  bloodhound  jumped  up  and  licked  and  caressed  his 
old  friend. 

Now  when  Tiger  stood  up  on  his  hind  legs,  he  was  as 
tall  as  Sunday — a  truly  formidable  beast. 

"Air  you  gwine  to  make  a  stay  'bout  these  parts, 
Csesar  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Gubbins. 

"On'y  a  while.  My  boss  has  to  bathe,  and  so  we'll 
be  here  every  day. " 

And  with  this  he  went  back  to  the  front  of  the  cottage, 
where  the  party,  having  refreshed  themselves  and  re- 
warded Mr.  Gubbins,  prepared  to  resume  the  journey. 


"Massa  Jack!  " 

"Yes,  Sunday." 

"Would  you  like  to  hab  a  lark  wid  Massa  Mole  ?  " 

Jack  chuckled. 

' '  Can  a  duck  swim  ?  " 

"I  can  tell  you  how  to  hab  jolly  fun,  den,  Massa 
Jack,  to  morrow  morning,  if  you  like." 

And  when  Sunday  imparted  his  scheme  to  young  Jack 
and  to  Monday,  it  was  highly  approved  of,  and  it  was  all 
arranged. 

The  next  morning,  just  as  they  passed  the  Gubbins' 
cottage,  Tiger  came  bounding  out  after  them,  and  again 
Sunday  dropped  down  at  the  bottom  of  the  trap  in  abject 
terror. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  95 

"Oh,  golly,  Massa  Jack,"  he  cried,  "  keep  him  off." 

"I  will,  Sunday,"  said  young  Jack.      "  Keep  snug." 

Tiger  barked  and  jumped  up,  and  Sunday  seemed  to 
grow  more  and  more  terrified  every  moment. 

Mr.  Mole  smiled  and  then  laughed  outright  at  poor 
Sunday's  fears. 

"  How  ridiculous  to  see  a  man  so  frightened  of  a  dog," 
he  said. 

"Drive  it  away,  brudder  Mole,"  implored  Sunday. 
"  Dat  dog  eat  us  all  up  ;  drive  him  off." 

"I  will,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  blandly. 

He  leant  over  the  side  of  the  trap,  and  chivied  Tiger 
away. 

But  the  faithful  animal  bounded  after  them  again,  and 
nearing  the  cart,  he  jumped  up,  snapping  and  barking  in 
a  way  that  shook  Mr.  Mole's  nerves,  in  spite  of  his  evident 
desire  to  appear  at  ease  in  his  mind. 

"Poor  Tiger !  "  he  said  ;  " poor  dog  !  " 

They  reached  the  rocks,  and  Mr.  Mole  picked  out  the 
nook  where  he  left  his  clothes  regularly,  and  here  he 
hurriedly  undressed. 

Sunday  did  not  bathe  that  morning. 

Ordinarily  he  was  the  first  in  the  water,  for  he  swam 
like  a  fish,  and  cut  all  kinds  of  capers  in  the  water,  to  the 
amusement  of  all  the  party. 

He  dared  not  go  into  the  water,  according  to  his  own 
account. 

"Dat  dam  Tiger'll  come  and  gobble  dis  chile  up,"  he 
said  ;  ' '  I'se  'fraid  ob  my  life. " 

But  this,  as  you  may  suppose,  was  not  strictly  true. 

In  fact,  no  sooner  was  the  tutor  in  the  water,  than 
Sunday  glided  behind  the  rocks,  and  softly  whistled  the 
bloodhound  up. 

"  You  see  dem  clothes,  Tiger?  "  he  said  pointing  to  Mr. 
Mole's  garments. 

Tiger  barked  in  reply. 

"You  sit  on  'em,"  said  Sunday,  "and  don't  you  let  no 
one  touch  'em." 

Tiger  barked  again. 

He  understood  what  was  said  well  enough. 

He  squatted  down  upon  the  garments,  and  looked  about 
him,  as  much  as  to  say — 

"Who'll  come  and  dislodge  me  ?     Come,  if  you  dare." 


96  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

And  it  would  have  been  a  brave  man  to  attempt  it. 

Young1  Jack  and  Monday  were  soon  out  of  the  water, 
according  to  a  preconcerted  arrangement,  and  Mr.  Mole 
prepared  to  follow  them,  when  he  perceived  Tiger  on 
guard. 

"Call  that  dog  off,"  shouted  Mr.  Mole. 

"Tiger,  Tiger  !  "  called  young  Jack. 

But  Tiger  never  moved. 

He  had  received  his  orders  ;  they  knew  this  well,  and 
it  was  only  Sunday  who  could  have  induced  him  to 
move. 

Sunday,  however  was  seemingly  too  frightened  to 
approach  the  bloodhound. 

"  Monday, "called  Mr.  Mole,  "  Monday  do  you  hear?" 

"Yes,  sar." 

"Drive  him  off." 

"Can't,  sar." 

"You  must." 

"Daren't,  sar." 

"  But  I  want  my  clothes,"  cried  Mr.  Mole. 

"You  frighten  him  off,  Massa  Mole,"  answered  Mon- 
day ;  "Tiger  don't  care  nuffin'  for  a  nigger." 

"Nonsense." 

"  He's  torn  a  poor  fellow  to  bits  to-day,"  said  young 
Jack,  "and  I  don't  half  like  his  looks. " 

"Rubbish." 

"  He'd  be  afraid  of  you,"  said  young  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  perceived  that  he  was  expected  to  show  his 
prowess,  and  so,  although  he  scarcely  relished  the  job, 
he  advanced  out  of  the  water  to  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  bloodhound,  and  endeavoured  to  coax  him  off. 

"Good  dog,  good  dog  !  "  cried  Mole. 

Tiger  growled. 

Then,  as  Mr.  Mole  drew  nearer,  he  snarled,  snapped, 
and  showed  his  fangs. 

And  such  fangs,  too. 

Mole  dashed  back  into  the  water  as  though  he  was 
shot. 

"Can't  any  body  get  him  off?  "  said  Mr.  Mole.  "I'm 
getting  the  shivers,  and  want  to  come  out." 

No  one  could,  however,  induce  Tiger  to  move  from  his 
post. 

Isaac  Mole,  in  sheer  despair,  approached  the  dog  once 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  97 

more,  for  he  had  formed  the  somewhat  rash  resolve  to 
drive  him  away.  But  oh,  for  his  rashness  ! 

Alas  !  for  his  resolve ! 

He  tried  to  persuade  the  bloodhound  to  quit  his  post, 
but  he  little  knew  Tigers  sense  of  discipline. 

It  would  have  been  as  easy  to  move  one  of  the  pyra- 
mids of  Egypt  as  to  dislodge  the  bloodhound. 

"Here,  Bijo  !  "  said  Mr.  Mole,  coaxingly.  "Hi,  Tow- 
zer  !  Good  dog — beast !  you  won't  move,  eh  ? — here — st 
— st— st ! " 

He  held  an  imaginary  something  in  his  hand  which 
he  expected  Tiger  to  take  for  a  tempting  morsel  of 
food. 

Tiger  looked,  and  even  sniffed,  but  no  more. 

Even  his  sniff  was  scornful. 

Tiger  was  immovable. 

"Jack,  my  dear  boy,  where  are  you?  Do  please  go 
and  tell  Mrs.  Mole  to  bring  me  some  clothes  to  put  on." 

No  answer  came  from  Jack. 

"You  beast  !"  said  Mole,  turning  his  attention  once 
more  to  the  dog  ;  "I  wish  I  had  a  gun  or  a  pistol,  I'd 
brain  you — or  I'd  try  at  it — you  beast !  Oh,  if  I  could  only 
get  my  boot !  It  is  very  hard  to  be  crippling  one's  sol- 
itary foot  while  one's  solitary  boot  is  under  the  custody 
of  a  notorious  man-eater  !  Oh  !  oh  !  my  poor  foot !  " 

He  was  on  the  shingles,  and  the  truth  was  that  they 
crippled  him,  in  spite  of  his  having  a  stick  to  help  him 
along,  and  just  as  he  got  unusually  vituperative,  a  nubbly 
pebble  mangled  his  little  toe  cruelly. 

"Oh!  confound  the  dog!  The  beast  is  inaccessible 
to  argument — it's  as  bootless  as  I  am." 

"  Oh,  that's  a  joke,"  cried  young  Jack,  who  was  within 
hearing. 

"You've  got  your  stick,  Mr.  Mole,"  shouted  young 
Jack  ;  ' '  why  don't  you  drop  into  him  with  it  ? — you'd 
drive  him  off." 

"It's  all  very  well  to  say  why?  I'd  precious  soon 
show  him  if  I  had  my  clothes  on." 

"He  won't  hurt  you  much,  I  dare  say,"  said  young 
Jack. 

"  Him  not  gnaw  you  a  lot,"  said  Monday  ;  "  you  too 
thin  and  gristly,  Massa  Mole." 

"  Yah  !  yah  !  "  cried  Sunday. 

7 


98  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Now   Mr.   Mole  resolved  to  recover  his  boot   at   al> 

hazards. 

With  that  he  could  mount  the  shingles  fearlessly,  he 
thought.  So  he  made  an  effort. 

Creeping  up,  he  took  his  stick  by  the  wet  end,  and 
made  a  dash  at  the  boot  with  the  crook. 

"Ugh — wah  !  "  snarled  Tiger,  showing  such  fangs. 

With  more  haste  than  grace  Mr.  Mole  retreated. 

Over  he  went  down  the  beach  head  first. 

And  then,  as  he  rose  to  the  surface,  he  was  spitting 
and  spluttering. 

"  He's  got  it  dis  time,"  laughed  Sunday. 

"Shipped  a  lot,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  Capital  physic  !  "  shouted  Monday.  "You  hab  water 
first,  and  rum  when  you  get  home,  Massa  Mole." 

Isaac  Mole  was  outraged. 

He  arose  majestically,  and  blew  away  his  long,  strag- 
gling, damp  locks,  which  tickled  his  purple  nose. 

Thoughts  of  dire  vengeance  filled  the  tutor's  breast. 

"  If  I  only  had  you  in  London  for  an  hour,"  he  said, 
shaking  his  stick  at  Tiger,  "  I'd  teach  you  !  They  should 
soon  find  your  bloated  corpus  floating  gracefully  on  the 
bosom  of  old  father  Thames.  A  nice  bit  of  liver,  savoured 
with  a  nice  little  something  from  the  chemist's,  should 
soon  wind  up  your  clock,  you  beast !  " 

He  worked  himself  up  into  a  towering  rage,  and  was 
just  going  to  throw  his  stick  at  the  faithful  bloodhound, 
when  he  thought  better  of  it. 

His  stick  was  a  crutch.  His  stick  might  yet  have  to 
serve  him  as  a  weapon  of  defence. 

Ha  !     A  brilliant  thought !     His  leg  ! 

That  wooden  member  was  of  little  use  momentarily, 
so  Mr.  Mole,  balancing  himself  dexterously  for  a  while 
on  his  natural  leg,  unscrewed  his  artificial  limb. 

"Now  you  shall  have  it !  "  he  muttered  between  his 
set  teeth. 

He  meant  it. 

Indeed,  if  Tiger  only  got  half  what  Mr.  Mole  meant 
him  to  have,  Tiger's  days  were  indeed  numbered. 

Isaac  Mole  poised  the  wooden  leg  in  his  hand. 

"Now  for  it,"  said  the  tutor,  "one,  two — I  don't  care 
where  I  hit,  for,  damme,  I  can't  get  out  of  the  water 
without  my  clothes — three  !  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  99, 

The  wooden  leg  flew  straight  at  the  mark. 

Yes,  and  what's  more,  it  might  have  landed  poor  Tiger 
heavily,  had  he  not  at  that  identical  moment  bent 
his  noble  head  to  take  a  sniff  at  a  diminutive  crab, 
which  had  just  excited  his  curiosity  by  crawling  past  his 
paws  ! 

"Missed!" 

"Missed!" 

The  words  were  echoed  from  behind  the  rocks. 

Young  Jack,  Monday,  and  Sunday  had  seen  it  ali. 

Despair. 

And  the  most  humiliating  part  of  the  business  was  that 
Tiger  bent  his  noble  head  and  only  sniffed,  and  gazed 
occasionally  at  the  unfortunate  Isaac  Mole  with  the  same 
stolid  indifference. 

"  A-chew  !— dear  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  tutor.  "I  know 
I  shall  catch  my  death  of  cold.  Oh,  will  no  one  fetch 
Mrs.  Mole  ? " 

It  was  high  time  for  the  spectators  to  interfere. 

So  Mr.  Mole's  pupil  took  the  initiative. 

"  Get  Mr.  Mole  some  other  clothes,"  said  young  Jack  ; 
"do  you  hear,  Sunday?" 

"Yes,  sar. " 

The  darky  disappeared,  and  presently  he  brought  some 
clothes  bundled  up  under  his  arms,  and  Mr.  Mple  crawled 
ashore  a  few  yards  off  his  own  clothes. 

"Jack,  my  dear  boy,  it  is  very  kind  of  you,  but  cannot 
some  of  you  drive  the  brute  away  ?  That  animal  is  evi- 
dently a  very  dangerous  one." 

"He  is." 

"  Be  quick  with  my  clothes.  Any  thing  to  get  back  in, 
for  if  I  catch  cold,  I  had  much  better  have  stopped  away 
altogether. " 

He  took  up  one  of  the  garments,  and  shook  it  out. 

And  then  he  gave  a  cry  of  amazement. 

"What's  this?     There's  some  mistake." 

"A  mistake  ? "  said  young  Jack.      "  What  mistake  ?  " 

"This  is  an  old  woman's  gown." 

"No  matter,"  cried  young  Jack,  "you  will  look  well 
in  any  thing,  sir." 

' '  Dat's  all  I  could  get, "  said  Sunday.  ' '  Mother  Gubbins 
lent  it  for  Massa  Mole.  She  ain't  got  no  other,  and  ole 
Gubbins  ain't  at  home." 


1 00  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Confound  old  Gubbins  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole  >  "  I 
can  never  go  along  dressed  up  like  that." 

"Then  don't  dress,  sar,"  suggested  Sunday;  "come 
along  with  no  clothes." 

"Impossible  ! " 

"You  must." 

"  Ridiculous  !  "  said  Mr.  Mole.     '•  Besides  consider " 

"  Then  you  must  drive  Tiger  ;  I  can't  do  it." 

"Dear  me,  dear  me,"  said  the  tutor,  in  considerable 
distress,  "this  is  very  unpleasant. '' 

"  It  is,  sir." 

"Sunday,  or  you,  Monday,  my  dear  friend,  kindly  lend 
me  your  clothes,  and  take  my  place  in  the  water." 

"  Not  if  him  knows  it,  sar,"  cried  Monday,  with  a  grin  ; 
"dis  child  am  berry  well  with  his  clothes  on.  You 
better  go  home  in  de  old  woman's  gown  ;  you  look  a 
berry  fine  gal. " 

' '  What,  in  the  gown  ? " 

"Yes,  sar." 

"Nonsense." 

"Shall  we  go  on,  sir?"  asked  young  Jack,  slily,  "and 
tell  the  old  woman  you  don't  want  her  clothes  ?  " 

"No,  no,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  quickly.  "  I'd  better  go 
home  in  her  old  gown,  than  nothing." 

And  so  he  began  to  dress. 

When  once  they  got  him  into  the  gown  the  rest  was 
comparatively  easy. 

There  was  a  bonnet  of  white  straw,  and  of  that  shape 
which  our  grandmothers  knew  as  the  "coal  scuttle,"  and 
a  shawl  as  well. 

And  in  this  eccentric  garb  Mr.  Mole  trotted  back  to 
the  trap,  while  his  companions  were  convulsed  with 
laughter. 

"Massa  Mole  makes  a  lubly  gal,"  said  Monday,  with 
a  grin  ;  "on'y  it's  a  pity  dat  his  petticoats  ain't  longer, 
for  he  looks  like  one  ob  dem  gals  what  dances  at  the 
theay  ten  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE   WORLD.  101 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

WHEREIN    MR.     MOLE    MORTALLY     OFFENDS    A    TERRIBLE     YANKEE. 

MR.  MOLE'S  adventure  at  the  bath  with  the  dog  abruptly 
terminated  his  stay  there. 

Next  morning  Mr.  Mole  received  notice  that  a  letter  of 
importance  was  waiting  for  him  at  the  Harkaways' 
residence  in  New  York. 

Mr.  Mole  was  glad  enough  to  depart,  as  he  had  been 
thinking  and  dreaming  ever  since  that  he  had  been  torn 
to  pieces  by  the  man-eating  dog,  Tiger. 

On  arriving  at  New  York  with  young  Jack,  they 
learned  some  highly  interesting  news  from  their  friends. 

After  that  desperate  battle  of  the  giants,  the  party  paid 
another  visit  to  the  woods  to  see  if  the  vanquished  Toro's 
body  was  still  there. 

But  judge  of  their  astonishment  when  they  found  that 
the  body  had  disappeared. 

There  could  be  but  one  way  of  accounting  for  this. 

The  ex-brigand's  comrades  had  carried  it  off.  They 
learned  also,  to  their  intense  disappointment  and  disgust, 
that  the  rest  of  the  Bowery  gang  had  escaped  in  the  vessel 
commanded  by  Captain  Clemmans.  But  whither  bound? 

"I  understand  their  ship  has  sailed  for  the  China  Seas," 
said  the  detective,  entering  at  the  moment,  "but  we'll 
have  them." 

Harkaway  handed  Mr.  Mole  his  letter. 

When  he  had  scanned  it  down  once,  he  cried — "Oh, 
my  !  " 

"  Oh,  yours  !  "  said  Harvey. 

"Oh,  his  !  "  said  young  Jack. 

"I  beg  you  will  not  conjugate  in  such  loud  tones," 
said  Mr.  Mole,  smiling  complacently.  "This  letter  is  an 
official  document.  It  is  from  one  of  the  English  consuls 
in  China.  I  am  advised  of  the  melancholy  death  of  the 
gentleman  to  whom  I  disposed  of  my  property  there." 

' '  The  tea  plantation  ?  "  asked  Dick  Harvey. 

"Yes.  The  gentleman  has  made  me  his  heir,"  replied 
Mr.  Mole. 


j  02  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Good  gracious  !  " 

"Wish  you  joy." 

"Long  life  to  Mr.  Mole!" 

Mr.  Mole  was  silent. 

His  brow  grew  cloudy. 

'It  is  accompanied  by  a  certain  condition." 
'  What  ?  " 

'That  I  should  go  and  live  on  the  property." 
'  Why  not  ?  " 

'I  should  have  to  go  and  leave  you,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 
'  But  you  cannot  refuse  your  property." 
'I  would,  sooner  than  leave  you." 

Mr.  Mole  was  quite  moved  as  he  spoke,  and  his  manne* 
told  them  as  plainly  as  words  could  that  in  spite  of  all  his 
eccentricities,  he  was  warmly  attached  to  the  Harkaways. 

"Well,"  said  Harka way  the  elder,  "we  shall  have  to 
go  with  you,  Mr.  Mole." 

"Where?" 

"To  China." 

"What!" 

"I  mean  it,  "said  Harkaway.  "We  can't  let  you  miss 
your  chances  for  our  sakes.  So,  if  you  go,  why,  we  will 
all  go  together.  We  do  not  fear  meeting  the  Bowery  gang 
even  there." 

The  arrangement  was  hastily  made.  But  they  adhered 
to  it,  as  you  will  see  later  on. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Mole  had  been  somewhat  disturbed  in 
his  mind  by  what  he  had  heard,  for  he  did  not  wish  ever 
to  hear  more  of  Hunston's  gang. 

"  Did  you  say  China,  Mr.  Pike?  "  he  asked. 

"I  did." 

"Are  you  sure  that  is  the  real  destination  of  these  rob- 
bers and  murderers  ? " 

"As  sure  as  one  can  well  be.  I  have  the  best  informa- 
tion on  that  point." 

Isaac  Mole  was  so  startled  by  the  singularity  of  the 
coincidence,  that  he  could  not  get  over  it. 

"  Most  extraordinary — marvellous,  sir — simply  marvel- 
lous, I  call  it." 

"  What  is,  sir  ?  "  demanded  Harkaway. 

"That  the  Bowery  gang  should  have  shipped  for  the 
very  part  that  we  are  going  to." 

Young  Jack  looked  anything  but  pleased. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  103 

"I  am  notg-lad  to  hear  that,"  he  said.  "  I  do  not  wish 
to  see  them  again.  But  are  you  sure  ?  " 

"We  have  Mr.  Pike's  word  for  it." 

"Come,  Mr.  Pike,"  said  Harkaway,  "we  must  to  busi- 
ness." So  they  departed,  leaving  young  Jack  alone  with 
Mr.  Mole. 

"Well,  sir,  "said  Jack,  "if  we  should  meet  the  gang, 
you  will  have  a  chance  of  showing  once  more  your  great 
courage,  for,  you  know,  in  the  fight  with  Toro  you  had 
not  a  fair  chance,  sir." 

"Jack,  my  dear  boy,"  retorted  Mr.  Mole,  promptly, 
"do  not  poke  your  fun  at  your  venerable  friend  and  pre- 
ceptor. 

"  Fun,  sir?  "  exclaimed  Jack. 

"You  are  a  pretty  innocent,  "said  Mr.  Mole.  "So  none 
of  your  tricks  upon  travellers,  or  if  I  don't  wig  you,  my 
name  is  not " 

"  Ikey  Mole 

Was  a  swipey  ole  soul, 
And  a  swipey  ole  soul  was  he," 

sang  Monday  just  outside  the  window  at  this  precise 
instant. 

Young  Jack  heard  it,  and  was  ready  to  split  his  sides 
with  laughter. 

"  The  lazy,  idle,  insolent  black  thief!  "  ejaculated  Mr. 
Mole,  indignantly.  "  He's  actually  standing  under  the 
window,  yelling  his  trash." 

"Very  wrong,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  Wrong  !  "  I'll  teach  him." 

A  plan  of  speedy  vengeance  had  flashed  across  Mr. 
Mole's  mind. 

Seizing  a  large  water  bottle  which  stood  in  the  centre  of 
the  table,  he  rushed  to  the  window,  and  stretching  forth 
his  arm,  emptied  the  water — as  he  thought — upon  the 
darkey's  devoted  head. 

At  the  self-same  moment,  Dick  Harvey  might  have  been 
seen  to  glide  out  of  the  house. 

Suddenly  a  loud  outcry  arose  beneath,  and  a  voice  in 
indignation  was  heard  to  lift  itself — 

"  Darn  my  feathers,  if  I  only  had  the  skunk  what  hev' 
turned  the  tap  on  my  ringulets,  I'd  lift  his  hair — some." 

Mr.  Mole  started. 


1 04  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"What  can  that  be  ?"  he  asked. 

"  I'll  see,"  replied  young  Jack,  with  alacrity. 

He  opened  the  window  and  looked  out,  for  he  strongly 
suspected  there  was  some  fun  on. 

Yes,  there  was  Harvey  busily  engaged  with  Monday, 
who  caught  a  little  of  the  water — very  little,  by  the  way 
— and  they  were  laughing  in  anticipation  over  some 
scheme  which  Harvey  was  proposing. 

"What's  the  matter?  "  called  out  young  Jack. 

"Hush,  Jack,  hush  !"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "  What  is  the 
use  of  taking  any  notice  ?  " 

"  It's  all  very  fine,  sir,"  said  young  Jack,  turning  round 
to  Mr.  Mole,  and  looking  very  frightened,  "but  you  have 
thrown  the  water  over  a  gentleman.  He  looks  very 
fierce  ;  he  has  two  revolvers  and  a  bowie-knife  stuck  in 
his  belt,  and  is  coming  this  way." 

"Good  gracious  me!"  ejaculated  Mr.  Mole,  "is  it 
possible  ? " 

"It  is  possible.  Come  and  see  for  yourself,"  said 
young  Jack. 

"No,  no,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  very  much  alarmed.  "Come 
away,  Jack." 

Just  then  the  same  irate  voice  which  had  been  heard 
before  exclaimed — 

"  Was  that  you,  my  bleating  babe  ?  " 

"No,  sir,  it  was  Mr.  Mole." 

"Hold  your  tongue,  Jack,"  said  the  tutor,  in  alarm. 
"  Do  you  want  to  make  a  disturbance  ? " 

"No,  sir;  but  he  thought  it  was  me." 

"Yew,  was  it?"  repeated  the  voice  below. 

"No,  Mr.  Mole,  and  he  is  up  here,  sir,  with  the  water 
bottle  in  his  hand." 

"  Mole  !      Darn  Mole  !     I'll  '  Mole  '  him  !  " 

"How  dare  you,  Jack?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  in  a 
whisper  of  alarm. 

"Say,  my  youthful  stranger,"  called  out  the  indignant 
unseen  below,  "you  can  pass  the  word  that  Solomon 
Brick  is  coming  up  to  settle  matters  right  away,  and  that 
if  I  don't  slice  his  darned  liver  in  half  a  whittle,  he  may  jest 
call  me  the  milkiest  coon  in  the  Union." 

"Dear  me,  dear  me!"  exclaimed  Mr.  'Mole,  "I  fear 
there  has  been  some  great  mistake. " 

"Rather!" 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


105 


"These  Americans  are  very  violent,  too,  I  have  heard." 

"Very." 

"Dear,  dear!  how  very  unfortunate. " 

"More  than  unfortunate,"  said  young  Jack.  "He's 
coming  up.  Now  is  the  time  to  show  your  native-born 
courage,  sir." 

' '  But  I  don't  want  to  show  my  native-born  courage,  Jack, 
at  this  moment." 

"Well,  sir,  he  is  coming  up." 

"  Never  !  "  cried  Mr.  Mole,  now  thoroughly  alarmed. 

At  the  very  instant  came  a  loud  knock  at  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  cried  young  Jack. 

"No,  no,"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  stumping  hurriedly  across 
the  room,  and  locking  the  door.  "  Who's  there?" 

"Me,  siree." 

"Who's  that?" 

"Solomon  Brick." 

Mr.  Mole's  countenance  fell. 

"I've  come  to  see  Mole,  the  skunk  that  dared  to  throw 
water  over  me,"  said  the  irate  Brick,  with  the  strongest 
nasal  twang  that  Mr.  Mole  had  ever  heard.  "I've  come 
jest  to  wind  up  his  clock  right  away — that's  so.  Open  the 
door. " 

"I  can't,"  answered  Mr.  Mole  in  great  confusion. 
"We're  out." 

"What?" 

"We're  in  visible,  "stammered  Mr.  Mole  ;  "we're  dress- 
ing— in  fact  we  are  in  bed,  and — and  we're  taking  a  bath. " 

"That's  high  pressure  some,"  returned  Mr.  Solomon 
Brick  through  the  keyhole.  "  You  Britishers  pile  it  on 
considerable." 

"We  do — we  do,"  answered  Mr.  Mole  eagerly. 

"Right,  siree  bob;  you  contrive  to  do  a  few  things  at 
once." 

"Yes,  sir." 

' '  Well,  Mole,  I'll  wait  for  you.  I'll  give  you  five  minutes 
and  I'll  kill  time  sharpening  up  my  prodder  for  your  ribs." 

"Oh  !  "  cried  poor  Mole,  "  his  prodder  for  my  ribs  !  " 

"It'll  go  through  you  better,"  continued  the  fire-eater 
outside. 

"  Bloodthirsty  monster  !  "  groaned  poor  Mr.  Mole. 

"Mr.  Mole  says  you  are  a  bloodthirsty  monster,  sir," 
cried  Jack  through  the  keyhole. 


1 06  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S' 

"Yes,  I  am  that,  and  I'll  load  my  six-shooters  ready 
for  him." 

"Ruffian  !  "  chattered  Mole,  from  between  his  teeth. 

"Now,  old  boss,  I  give  you  two  minutes  more,  and 
then  I'll  pop  the  muzzle  of  my  barker  to  the  keyhole,  and 
bust  the  lock  off;  and  then  I'll  come  in  with  my  bowie 
out,  and  carve  away  merrily  at  your  old  carcase." 

Mr.  Mole  staggered  a  little,  and  caught  at  the  chimney 
for  support. 

He  felt  that  he  was  lost. 

"Carve  away  at  my  old  carcase!"  exclaimed  Mole. 
"Oh,  horror!  "' 

This  person,  calling  himself  Mr.  Solomon  Brick,  was 
evidently  the  typical  Yankee  rowdy  that  he  had  read  of 
in  English  books. 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  young  Jack,  "I  think  he  means  it. 
Can  I  give  any  message  to  Mrs.  Mole  for  you,  sir,  before 
you  are  carved  up  ?  " 

"No,  Jack,  my  dear  boy;  I  would  like  to  deliver  the 
message  myself  to  my  dear  wife.  Cannot  I  escape,  Jack, 
for  the  fact  is,  I  don't  feel  well  ?  " 

"There  is  no  way  to  escape,  sir;  you  had  better  meet 
your  fate  like  a  man." 

"  I  should  prefer  it  some  other  day,  Jack,"  cried  Mole, 
trembling  ;  "at  the  present  moment  I  am  not  quite  ready 
to  be  carved  up  ;  the  operation  must  be  most  unpleasant. '"' 

Mole  was  conscious  of  having  mortally  offended  and 
insulted  an  out-and-out  Yankee  rowdy,  and  he  felt  that 
his  life  was  not  worth  an  hour's  purchase. 

Had  Isaac  Mole  been  an  artist,  his  fancy  sketch  would 
have  shown  a  long,  thin  man,  with  a  square  lower  jaw, 
and  a  tuft  on  the  chin,  and  a  broad-brimmed  conical  hat. 

Had  he  sketched  Dick  Harvey,  it  would  have  borne  a 
life-like  resemblance  to  Solomon  Brick. 

And  this  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  seeing  that  Dick 
Harvey  and  Solomon  Brick  were  one  and  the  same. 

"Now,  siree,"  said  the  fire-eater,  "my  patience  is  at 
an  end,  and  I  guess  I'm  gwine  to  blaze  away."  Mole 
groaned. 

"I'll  just  count  out  three,"  pursued  the  irascible  Solo- 
mon. "Now,  oncet,  twicet,  and " 

"Stop,  stop!"  cried  Mr.  Mole  :  "don't  be  rash,  sir,  I 
beg.  I'll  have  the  door  opened." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  107 

"Oh,  you  will?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  no  more  palaver,  or  I'll  see  tew  it  myself,  any- 
how." 

"  Restrain  your  ferocity,  my  dear  sir,"  said  poor  Mole. 

"Don't  'My  dear  sir'  me,  darn  you — or " 

"I  cannot  let  you  in  just  yet." 

"Why,  you — you  ring-tailed  roarer  1 " 

"Oh!  my  !" 

"  You — you  all-fired  snorter  !  " 

"  How  dreadful  to  be  called  such  awful  names." 

"Open  the  door." 

"  I  can't  sir,  I  assure  you.     Mrs.  Mole  is  dressing." 

"What's  that  to  do  with  me?  Put  Mother  Mole  into 
bed  while  we  carve  away  at  each  other." 

"What  a  sanguinary  villain,"  gasped  Mole. 

"And  if  your  old  woman  can't  stand  fire,  let  her  plug 
up  her  ears  with  cotton  wool  while  we  blaze  away.  She 
can  cover  over  her  head,  if  she  don't  like  to  see  your  ruby 
spilt ;  but,  damme  !  I'll  make  you  dance." 

It  was  piteous  indeed  to  behold  poor  Mr.  Mole. 

He  was  as  pale  as  death  ;  the  colour  had  fled  from  his 
lips,  which  were  growing  blue. 

"Remember,  sir,  I  am  a  married  man,"  cried  Mole. 

"  Sarve  you  right,  for  making  a  darned  fool  of  yourself/' 
shouted  the  fire-eater. 

Young  Jack  was  laughing  inwardly. 

"I'll  bust  it  open  !  "  exclaimed  the  wrathful  Brick  out- 
side. 

A  mighty  thump,  that  threatened  to  shiver  the  panels, 
wound  up  this  fierce  speech. 

Mr.  Mole  had  grown  desperate  by  this  time. 

So  he  stepped  up  to  the  door,  and  stilled  the  chattering 
of  his  teeth  by  a  tremendous  effort. 

"If  you  will  only  curb  your  violence,"  he  said,  in  his 
most  dignified  manner,  "and  make  known  your  desires, 
I  will  endeavour  to  meet  them." 

"I'll  '  desires '  you,"  retorted  Brick  through  the  keyhole. 

"  What  do  you  want?  " 

"To  slice  your  darned  liver." 

Mole  shivered. 

"  If  you  have  been  offended,  sir "  he  began. 

"Offended?     Outraged,  you  mealy-faced  cuss  !" 


1 08  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"I  am  ready  to  make  an  ample  apology." 

"Won't  have  it." 

"What  more  can  a  gentleman  do  ?  "  asked  poor  Mole, 
in  despair. 

"Come  out  and  draw  iron,"  yelled  Solomon  Brick; 
"come  out  and  get  cat-awampously  chawed  up." 

"  Chawed  up  ;  dear,  dear,  whatever  is  that  ?  Is  it  worse 
than  being  carved  up  ?  " 

"Bust,  spifflicated,  and  I'll  be  your  buster,  your  spiffli- 
cater ;  come  out." 

"Dear,  dear  me,  how  violent.     What  a  fury." 

"If  you've  got  the  pluck  of  a  maiding  gal,  come  out 
and  get  goss. " 

"Whatever  is  a  maiding  gal?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole, 
fairly  puzzled. 

"  He  wants  you  to  fight  him,  sir.  Had  you  not  better 
have  it  over  at  once  ?  " 

"Ugh!     A  duel?" 

"  Of  course." 

"Put  him  off,  then." 

"Well,  sir?" 

"Mr.  Mole  says,"  replied  young  Jack  at  the  door,  that 
he'll  be  very  glad  to  meet  you " 

"No,  no!" 

"If  you'll  name  your  time  and  weapons." 

"No,  no,  no  !  "  cried  Mr.  Mole,  in  an  agonised  whisper. 

"  Time  now,"  retorted  the  fierce  Solomon  Brick  through 
the  keyhole  ;  "nothing  like  the  present.  Weapons,  any- 
thing he  likes  from  toothpicks  to  blunderbusses,  popguns 
to  forty-eight  pounders,  and  he  may  consider  me  there  ; 
that's  so." 

"I'll  never  fight,  Jack,"  groaned  Isaac  Mole,  now 
thoroughly  lost  to  a  proper  sense  of  his  dignity  before  his 
pupil. 

' '  You  must,  sir. " 

"Wall,  is  he  ready?  Shall  I  send  someone  to  order 
his  coffin  ?  I  don't  mind  paying  for  it. " 

"Well,  sir,  Mr.  Mole  says  that  he  is  not  ready  for  his 
coffin,  and  he  couldn't  fight  now  as  he's  too  busy,"  an- 
swered young  Jack,  "and  he's  got  a  bad  toothache,  and 
he  don't  feel  well ;  but  he'll  be  glad  to  accommodate 
you " 

"Say  next  Tuesday  week,"  suggested  Mr.  Mole. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  109 

"To-morrow,"  said  young  Jack. 

"To-morrow,  then,"  answered  Mr.  Brick.  "What 
time  ? " 

"Six." 

"In  the  morning?" 

"Yes." 

"  Don't  be  so  rash,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  in  a  whisper  ;  "  say 
evening. " 

"Evening,"  repeated  young  Jack  aloud. 

"  Very  good  ;  I'll  be  here  and  conduct  you  to  a  place 
where  we  can  chop  away  like  fun  for  an  hour  or  two, 
and  say  !  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  I'll  hev  a  barrer  with  me  to  wheel  off  what  is  left  of 
Mole  ;  d'ye  hear  ?  " 

And  then  they  heard  the  sounds  of  Mr.  Solomon  Brick's 
retreating  footsteps. 

Isaac  Mole  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief  at  this. 

"Thank  goodness  that  that  man-monster  has  left,"  said 
he.  "  By  six  to-morrow  evening  I  hope  to  be  a  long  way 
on  the  road  to  Cuba." 

Mr.  Mole  hurried  the  preparations  for  their  departure 
in  a  feverish  manner,  and  by  noon  next  day  the  whole 
of  the  Harkaway  party,  Jefferson,  Magog  Brand,  Harry 
Girdwood,  and  the  two  English  detectives,  were  on  their 
way  to  Mr.  Mole's  tea  plantation  in  the  Celestial  Empire, 
vid  that  hotbed  of  revolution — the  Island  of  Cuba. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

NEMESIS  ON  BOARD— JACK  AT  HIS  OLD  TRICKS MOLE-HUNTING. 

" '  Her  bowsprit  points  to  Cuba, 
The  coast  lies  far  behind,'  " 

sang  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  quite  elated  at  the  idea  of  being 
once  more  afloat,  and  having  escaped  the  fire-eating 
brick. 

"This  reminds  me,  Jack,  of  my  strange  adventures  with 
a  slaver,  that  I  fell  in  with  once  when  I  was  on  my 
travels." 


HO  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

1  Dear  me,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  his  pupil,  "a  slaver  ? " 
'Yes,  Jack." 

'  Did  you  ever  trade  in  slaves  ?  " 
'I'm  afraid  I  did." 

'  You  were  a  desperate  character  then,  sir !  " 
'I  think  I  was,  Jack,"  answered  Mr.   Mole;  "in  fact, 
my  dear  boy,  I  am  afraid  that  I  was  a  deuce  of  a  fire- 
eater  when  young." 

"  How  strange.     You  have  changed  now,  sir." 

"It  is  strange." 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  young  Jack,  reflectively.  "It  is  by 
the  same  rule,  I  suppose,  that  the  prettiest  babies  grow 
up  the  ugliest  men  and  women,  at  times." 

"  And  vice  versa, "  added  his  tutor,  with  a  modest  cough. 
"I  have  heard  my  parents  remark  that  I  was  far  from 
comely  in  my  infancy." 

"  Which  accounts  for  your  splendid  appearance  now, 
sir." 

' '  Precisely.  I  was  too  fiery  in  my  youth,  Jack,  far 
too  fiery,  and  I  was  given  to  resent  every  offence  in  a 
way  that  a  man  really  ought  not  to.  I  was  a  dare-devil, 
you  see,  a  high-spirited,  dashing  young  blade,  Jack,  in 
fact,  a  species  of — of " 

"Solomon  Brick,"  suggested  his  pupil. 

"Not  quite  so  misguided,  I  might  almost  say  so  mad, 
but  I  was  almost  as  desperate  if  I  had  any  real  offence  to 
resent." 

"He  was  very  alarming,  sir." 

"He  was  very  absurd,  Jack,  if  you  mean  that,"  he 
replied. 

"He  frightened  you  dreadfully,  sir." 

"Frightened  me?"  echoed  Mr.  Mole.  "Don't  talk 
nonsense,  Jack." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  were  not  frightened,  sir?  " 

"  Of  course  not,  Jack  ;  the  fact  is,  as  I  was  about  leav- 
ing America,  I  did  not  wish  to  have  the  poor  fellow's 
blood  on  my  hands." 

"Then  you  were  not  frightened  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"  No,  Jack,  and  I  am  glad  I  did  not  chastise  that  mis- 
guided man  for  his  rudeness,  though  it  quite  upset  me." 

"I  thought  once  you  had  got  the  captain  aboard,  sir." 

"The  captain  aboard?"  iterated  Mr.  Mole.  "What 
captain  ? 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  nj 

"Captain  Funk,"  answered  young  Jack,  demurely. 
And  without  waiting  to  watch  the  effect  of  his  speech 
upon   his  tutor,  young  Jack  turned  upon  his   heel,   and 
strode  aft  in  search  of  Dick  Harvey. 

Dick  was  engaged  in    a   chat   with  Jack   Harkaway, 
senior. 

"I  say,    Mr.    Harvey,"   said  young  Jack,    "we  shall 
have  to  bring  Mr.  Solomon  Brick  to  the  fore  again. " 
Harvey  grinned. 
'  What  for,  Jack  ?  " 
'  Oh,  he's  going  it  wildly. " 
'Mr.  Mole?" 
'Yes." 
'Bragging?" 
*  Worse  than  ever. " 

'  Very  well,  then,  we'll  physic  him,"  said  Dick  Harvey. 
So  they  let  Harkaway  into  the  secret,  and  they  got  up 
a  notable  scheme  between  them  ;  for  young  Jack's  father 
had  never  got  over  his  old  predilection  for  a  practical 
joke  of  any  kind,  and  a  spree  with  Isaac  Mole — so  long 
as  it  was  not  carried  too  far — was  of  all  things  in  the 
world  just  to  his  taste. 

This  just  helped  them  to  carry  out  their  joke. 
Harkaway  loved  fun  now  as  much  as  ever,  and  into 
this  present  scheme  he  entered  heart  and  soul. 


"Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jack  Harkaway,  senior,  a  little  later 
on,  "  is  there  any  foundation  for  what  the  captain  of  this 
ship  has  been  telling  me  ?  " 

"If  I  only  knew,  my  dear  Harkaway,"  said  Mr.  Mole, 
with  a  very  supercilious  smile,  "  what  Captain  Disher  had 
been  telling  you,  I  might  be  able  to  hazard  a  reply." 

"You  shall  know  at  once,  sir,"  replied  Harkaway. 
"It  relates  to  a  gentleman  you  offended — a  Mr.  Solomon 
Brick." 

Mr.  Mole  started 

"  Has  captain  Disher  been  speaking  to  you  of  that  in- 
solent person  ? " 

"Then  there  is  some  truth  in  it ?  " 

"I  don't  know  what  you  may  understand  by  that, 
Harkaway.  There  was  a  person  calling  himself  Solomon 
Brick — odious  name — who  presumed  to  be  very  insolent 


112  JACK  HARKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

to  me,  and  whom  I  should  certainly  have  punished,  had 
our  hurried  departure " 

"That's  it,  then.     Good  Heaven,  my  dear  old  friend." 

"Don't  excite  yourself,  Harkaway." 

"  I  do  not — I  do  not,  Mr.  Mole,  only  I  can't  say  how 
glad  I  am  that  this  man  did  not  goad  you  on  to  rash- 
ness." 

"Ahem!" 

"That  your  hands  are  free  from  the  stain  of  blood." 

"True,"  returned  the  tutor,  pompously  ;  "  he  was  very 
provoking,  and,  although  I  am  not  given  to  take  offence 
too  readily,  I  must  say  that  I  was  sorely  tempted  to  give 
him  a  lesson." 

"  You  were  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  You  don't  mean  it,"  said  Harkaway,  apparently  quite 
staggered  by  the  tutor's  display  of  courage. 

"Indeed,  I  do." 

"And  would  you  really  like  to  meet  him  ?  " 

"Such,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  complacently,  "  such  is  my 
dearest  wish.  In  point  of  fact,  once  let  me  finish  the 
business  which  I  have  now  on  hand,  and  I  shall,  without 
loss  of  time,  make  a  point  of  seeking  out  Mr.  Solomon 
Brick,  and  either  make  him  eat  his  words  and  humbly 
apologise,  or " 

"Or  what?" 

"Or  he  shall  account  to  me  for  his  violent  conduct 
with  sword  and  pistol." 

And  Mr.  Mole,  looking  as  fierce  as  a  maggot,  strode  up 
and  down  a  la  militaire. 

To  look  upon  Isaac  Mole  just  then,  you  would  have 
thought  him  the  most  desperate  duellist  that  the  fighting 
world  could  produce. 

Harkaway  appeared  to  be  shocked. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Mole,  Mr.  Mole  !  "  he  said,  with  a  long-drawn 
sigh. 

"What,  Jack?" 

' '  I  am  so  sorry  to  see  you  betray  such  ferocity. " 

"  One  cannot  help  one's  nature,  Harkaway.  You  know 
I  was  always  brave." 

' '  True,  but  still  I  had  hopes  of  passing  a  time  of  tran- 
quil and  calm  enjoyment  on  our  voyage  out." 

"  And  so  we  shall." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  113 

"Not  if  you  betray  such  bloodthirsty  instincts." 

Mr.  Mole  was  in  positive  ecstasy  at  this. 

Not  only  had  he  got  out  of  a  very  difficult  position  with 
considerable  skill,  but  he  had  very  easily  acquired  a 
reputation  for  fierceness  with  the  most  sceptical  of  his 
friends. 

"Do  not  fear  for  me,  my  dear  Harkaway,"  he  said. 
"As  fierce  and  warlike  as  I  may  be  in  presence  of  the 
enemy,  I  am  a  very  lamb  in  the  time  of  peace." 

Harkaway  shook  his  head  doubtfully. 

"There  will  be  bloodshed  yet  on  board,  I  fear." 

"What  do  you  mean  ? "  asked  Mr.  Mole,  as  though  he 
had  not  heard  aright. 

"  If  you  insist  on  molesting  this  man." 

"Don't  be  weak  and  silly,  Harkaway!  Once  for  all, 
you  will  find  me  calm  and  peaceably  disposed  enough 
here.  Only  once  free  from  this  job,  I  will  get  you  to  bear 
a  message  for  me  to  this  insolent  rowdy." 

"I?" 

"Yes,  you." 

' '  I  should  feel  flattered  at  being  chosen  for  your  second, 
sir,"  said  Harkaway,  "but  the  dread  of  any  thing  hap- 
pening to  you " 

"Mr.  Mole  winced. 

It  gave  him  a  turn  to  think  what  might  have  happened 
to  him  had  he  not  managed  to  put  off  that  bloodthirsty 
Yankee,  Solomon  Brick. 

At  the  same  time  he  mentally  vowed  never  to  set  foot 
in  New  York  city  again  until  he  had  heard  of  Mr.  Solomon 
Brick's  demise. 

But  a  startler  was  in  reserve  for  poor  Isaac  Mole. 

"Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harkaway,  in  a  funereal  voice,  "I 
can't  refuse  you." 

"  Of  course  not." 

"  No.  My  respect  for  you,  my  dear  old  friend,  forbids 
that ;  but,  oh  !  I  cannot  describe  to  you  my  anguish  when 
I  reflect  in  how  short  a  time  it  may  be  my  wretched  lot  to 
see  you  stretched  at  my  feet. " 

"  What ! " 

"Bathed  in  your  own  gore." 

"Harkaway,  don't  talk  such  nonsense.  Your  words 
are  more  forcible  than  pleasant." 

' '  Ah,  you  make  light  of  it,  sir, "  said  Harkaway.  ' '  You 
8 


114  JACK  HARKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

know  not  fear,  but  I — I — when  I  think  that  another  hour 
may  see  you  lifeless." 

Mr.  Mole  pricked  up  his  ears. 

Another  hour! 

Surely  there  was  some  mistake. 

"Are  you  aware,  Harkaway,  that  it  will  be  months 
before  this  voyage  will  be  settled,  and  all  the  work  in 
hand?  " 

' '  Yes ;  but  I  suppose  you  mean  me  to  carry  your 
message  at  once." 

"At  once!  How?  Whatever  do  you  mean,  Hark- 
away  ? " 

"  Is  it  possible,  Mr.  Mole,  that  you  can  be  unaware  of 
his  presence  on  board?" 

"Whose?" 

"Why,  whose  but  Mr.  Solomon  Brick's,  that  dreadful 
man,  who  is  now  thirsting  for  your  blood  !  " 

Had  Mr.  Mole  suddenly  sat  down  upon  a  needle,  he 
could  not  have  started  more  spasmodically.  The  colour 
forsook  his  cheek. 

He  held  himself  steady  by  the  nearest  projection,  and 
stared  wildly  at  Harkaway. 

"Do  you  mean  that  he,  Solomon  Brick,  is  here,  Hark- 
away  ? " 

"Yes." 

' '  On  board  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Have  you  seen  him  ?  " 

"  No,  but  the  captain  is  full  of  it.  Mr.  Brick  has  paid 
his  fare  to  Cuba  solely  with  the  idea  of  following  you." 

"  Gracious  !  " 

"He  has  sworn  to  have  your  blood;  in  fact,  your 
life. " 

"The  villain  !  " 

"  And  no  doubt  he'll  keep  his  word,  for  Captain  Disher 
tells  me  his  skill  with  the  bowie-knife  is  something  mar- 
vellous, and  that  he  is  never  satisfied  until  he  cuts  his 
enemy  into  mincemeat ;  while,  as  for  shooting,  he  can 
do  things  that  look  more  like  conjuring  tricks  than  pistol 
practice." 

Mr.  Mole  shivered. 

He  hadn't  a  word  to  say  for  himself  now. 

It  was  so  sudden — so  awful. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  115 

Such  a  change  from  the  calm,  delightful  feeling  of 
satisfaction  which  he  had  experienced  in  having  escaped 
his  danger,  that  he  was  utterly  dumfounded. 

"Well,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harkaway,  "since  I  see  you 
so  resolved,  I  may  as  well  go  and  carry  your  message." 

He  moved  a  step. 

But  Mr.  Mole  detained  him. 

"Stop  a  moment " 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  cried  Jack. 

"Why,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  grasping  Jack's  hand,  "my 
dear  Harkaway,  I  am  thinking  that  at  my  time  of  life 
perhaps  it  would  be  advisable  to  turn  my  quarrels  over 
to  a  younger  man,  for  instance,  my  dear  old  pupil.  You 
may,  if  you  like,  take  my  place,  and  fight  this  dreadful 
man-eater  for  me." 

"No,"  cried    Harkaway,    "I   \vill  not   rob  you  of  the 
honour  of  ridding  the  world  of  this  horrid  villain,  and  I 
had  better  lose  no  time,  for  if  we're  not  sharp,  the  chal- 
lenge will  come  from  him,  and  since  you  are  so  fiercely 
resolved,  let  us  take  it  out  of  him  altogether." 
'  One  moment,  Harkaway,"  gasped  the  tutor. 
'Yes,  sir." 

'This  is  so  sudden,  and  so  unexpected." 
'  But  not  disagreeable  to  you,  I  suppose?  " 

'  Of  course  not — but " 

'All  right,  sir,"  said  Harkaway,  cheerfully,  "we'll  talk 
it  over  when  I  have  settled  the  particulars.  Meanwhile, 
let  us  be  first  with  our  message,  or " 

"Mr.  Mole,"  said  one  of  the  crew,  stepping  up  at  this 
moment. 

"Yes." 

"  Mr.  Solomon  Brick  wants  to  see  you  on  urgent  busi- 
ness that  can't  be  put  off ;  he  seems  to  have  a  lot  of 
powder  and  shot,  and  a  sharp  knife  or  two,  sir,  he  says  ; 
and  he's  coming  to  you  right  away. " 

Mr.  Mole  gave  a  cry — a  species  of  gasp  ;  and  hobbled 
away  at  a  rate  that  rather  astonished  his  friends. 

In  his  hurry  he  tumbled  head  first  down  the  steps,  shut 
himself  in  his  cabin,  and  did  not  appear  for  the  next  two 
days. 


1 1 6  /A  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE    ISLAND    OF   CUBA — STARTLING  NEWS. 

MR.  MOLE  became  a  regular  amusement  for  the  whole 
ship. 

He  called  for  food  and  drink  to  be  placed  outside  his 
door  day  by  day,  being  much  too  afraid  to  come  on 
deck. 

But  when  they  neared  the  coast  of  Cuba,  they  had 
other  matters  to  distract  their  attention,  and  the  tutor  got 
a  rest. 

A  Spanish  cruiser  overhauled  them,  and  a  rigorous 
examination  was  made  of  their  papers  and  cargo. 

The  reason  of  this  harsh  proceeding  was  patent  to  all. 

The  insurgents  of  Cuba  got  supplies  of  arms  and 
ammunition  from  all  quarters. 

The  authorities  had  their  floating  spies  about  in  all 
directions,  and  sometimes  they  succeeded  in  bagging  a 
delinquent — catching  him  in  the  act.  And  when  they 
did,  it  went  hard  with  him  at  last. 

They  issued  proclamations  threatening  all  blockade 
runners  with  death  in  the  event  of  their  capture  red- 
handed. 

Captain  Disher  remonstrated  to  the  Spanish  cruiser  in 
language  more  plain  than  polite. 

"We  sail  under  a  flag  that  won't  stand  much,  sen  or," 
he  said,  pointing  significantly  to  the  stars  and  stripes 
floating  about  in  the  breeze,  "so  let  me  recommend  that 
to  your  polite  consideration  before  you  go  too  far. " 

' '  I  can  accept  the  full  responsibility  for  my  actions, " 
replied  the  Spanish  commander,  with  gravity.  "You  are 
free  to  depart  now,  but  I  warn  your  passengers  that  any- 
one landing  runs  very  considerable  risks.  These  are 
serious  times,  and  we  can't  well  spend  precious  moments 
ever  matters  of  form  and  ceremony." 

They  learnt  something  more  interesting  than  this. 

More  interesting,  that  is,  to  the  Harkaways. 

The  Spanish  cruiser  had  the  day  previously  made  an 
important  capture. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  HJ 

A  vessel  carrying  arms  for  the  insurgents,  together  with 
other  good  contraband  of  war,  had  been  taken. 

A  very  important  capture  indeed  it  was  considered. 

Amongst  the  prisoners,  they  counted  Captain  Clemmans. 
one  of  the  most  serious  and  most  successful  blockade 
runners,  and  his  crew,  there  was  every  reason  to  believe, 
was  simply  a  body  of  recruits  for  the  revolutionists. 

"And  what  will  be  done  with  the  men?  "  questioned 
Captain  Disher,  in  Harkaway's  hearing. 

The  Spanish  officer  smiled  significantly  at  the  question. 

'  What  has  been  done  with  them,  you  mean,  captain  !  " 

'  Well,  has  been  done,  then  ?  " 

'Shot." 

'  Never ! >: 

'Such  is  the  case,"  replied  the  officer,  gravely  ;  "and 
now  judge  if  you  are  fortunate  in  having  nothing  in  your 
cargo  which  calls  forth  any  suspicions  concerning  you." 

Later  information  confirmed   what    this    officer    had 
said. 

A  number  of  prisoners  were  taken,  and  after  a  hurried 
mockery  of  a  trial,  they  were  placed  against  a  wall  and 
shot  down  mercilessly. 

Harkaway  was  not  a  little  startled  by  what  he  heard, 
as  you  may  suppose. 

"  Can  you  give  me  a  list  of  names  of  the  parties  shot  ?  " 

"From  the  'Independence'?"  asked  the  officer. 

"Yes." 

"  Here  is  the  official  list." 

The  Spaniard  produced  a  list  of  names  from  his  pocket, 
and  handed  it  to  Harkaway. 

He  hurriedly  scanned  them  down. 

' '  Richard  Barkley,  John  Clemmans,  Fritz  Von  Koppen- 
haagen,  Juan  Ostani,  Robert  Emmerson,  Francis  Warbur- 
ton. " 

"Is  it  possible,"  said  Harkaway,  meditatively,  "that 
this  can  be  the  end  of  the  villains  who  have  caused  us  so 
much  trouble  and  bother  ? " 

"  Did  you  know  any  of  the  murdered  men?  "  inquired 
the  captain,  who  stood  near  Harkaway. 

"Murdered  men  ["iterated  the  Spanish  officer,  indig- 
nantly. "They  were  men  deserving  of  death." 

"I  knew  several  of  them,"  replied  Harkaway.  "It  is 
Certain  that  they  merited  their  fates.  But  can  it  really  be 


1 1 8  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  A  ND  HIS  SON 'S 

true  that  Toro,  Hunston,  and  Emmerson  are  amongst  the 
slain  ? " 

After  some  little  conversation,  the  Spanish  officer  sug- 
gested that  the  best  way  of  ascertaining  whether  the  men 
executed  were  really  those  our  hero  had  known  would  be 
to.  inquire  of  the  consul,  who  would  be  able  to  furnish  him 
with  full  descriptions. 

So  Jack  Harkaway  the  elder  and  his  friend  Dick  Harvey 
went  ashore  in  a  boat  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  British 
consul. 

They  were  challenged  by  the  sentries  as  they  landed. 

But  they  were  fortunately  accompanied  by  the  Spanish 
revenue  officer,  whose  presence  was  a  guarantee  for  them. 

Once  on  shore,  they  were  soon  conducted  to  the  British 
consulate. 

Harkaway  had  no  difficulty  in  making  himself  known. 

"I  am  very  pleased,"  said  the  consul,  "to  make  your 
acquaintance,  for  I  have  many  things  to  tell  you." 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  said  Harkaway,  in  some  surprise. 

"  It  concerns  your  late  agent." 

"Don  Jose?"' 

"Poor  Don  Jose' !  He  was  a  personal  friend  of  mine, 
and  his  death  caused  me  sorrow  and  trouble  in  vainly  en- 
deavouring to  unravel  the  mystery  connected  with  his 
death." 

"Mystery?" 

"Yes." 

"  What  mystery  ?" 

"  His  continued  praises  of  your  father's  great  liberality 
excited  the  cupidity  of  an  adventurer  called — or  calling 
himself — Juan  Ostani." 

"Then  how  come  Don  Jose  to  name  Ostani  as  his 
successor  ?  " 

"  It  was  your  father  who  did  that,"  said  the  consul. 

Harkaway  shook  his  head  rather  seriously. 

"It  is  a  forgery,  then." 

"  Are  you  sure?  " 

"Certain,  for  I  know  positively  that  my  father  was  al- 
ways opposed  to  this  Ostani." 

"Then,"  said  the  consul,  " I  can  see  it  all  now.  This 
supplies  the  only  link  wanting  to  complete  the  chain  of 
evidence  I  have  been  fitting  together.  Don  Jose,  your 
father's  agent,  died  in  a  way  that  convinced  me  there  had 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  119 

been  foul  play,  and  Ostani  produced  letters  appointing 
him  successor.  From  the  first  moment  that  I  saw  that 
man  I  was  prejudiced  against  him.  He  speedily  became 
woefully  unpopular  with  everyone,  and  it  began  to  be 
whispered  about  that  he  was  concerned  in  the  political 
intrigues  which  led  to  the  civil  war." 

"Indeed !  " 

"  It  has  since  transpired  that  he  was  in  the  pay  of  both 
sides,  and  that  he  played  false  to  both." 

"The  villain!" 

"  Presently  it  grew  too  hot  for  him  here,  and  he  one  fine 
day  disappeared  from  the  scene,  bearing  off  a  considerable 
amount  of  property  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted." 

"  How  is  it  that  he  did  not  get  into  trouble  with  your 
hot-headed  islanders  ? " 

"Why,  in  some  measure  his  physical  weakness  pro- 
tected him." 

"  How  ?     Was  he  deformed  or  very  aged  ?  " 

*'  Neither.  He  was  a  well-grown  man,  but  he  had  only 
one  arm." 

Jack  looked  up. 

"One  arm?" 
.  "Yes." 

"That  is  a  singular  coincidence!"  he  said.  "My 
greatest  enemy  is  a  one-armed  man.  Describe  this  Ostani. " 

"  He  was  rather  tall,  sallow-faced,  with  a  lowering  brow 
and  forbidding  glance — an  objectionable  man,  in  fact." 

"The  very  man  !"  exclaimed  Jack  Harkaway,  jump- 
ing up. 

The  consul  looked  up  in  great  surprise. 

"  Your  Juan  Ostani,"  continued  Harkaway,  "  has  been 
taken  prisoner,  and,  as  I  have  been  given  to  understand, 
shot  yesterday." 

"Good  Heaven ! " 

Harkaway  continued — 

"He  was  taken  here  with  others  on  board  a  vessel 
carrying  arms  to  the  insurgents.  Juan  Ostani  is  an 
Englishman,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  and  his  real  name  is 
Hunston.  ' 


120  JACK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

"WHO    GOES    THERE?" — AN    ADVENTURE    AND     AN    ARREST. 

THE  consul  rang-,  and  a  servant  appeared. 

"Can  you  give  me  the  names  of  the  crew  and  passengers 
of  the  '  Independence '  who  were  shot?  "  he  asked. 

' '  Two  men  only  were  shot. " 

"But  I  heard  that  they  were  all  condemned." 

"  It  is  true,  sir,  but  they  were  mostly  respited. " 

"Give  me  the  names  of  the  two  who  were  shot." 

"One  was  Joachim  Hertz,  the  other  was  called Salviati." 

' '  Stay  while  I  write  a  letter  to  the  governor  of  the  prison. 
I  wish  to  see  one  of  the  prisoners." 

"The  rest  of  them  have  been  set  at  liberty." 

"Never!  " 

"Pardon  your  excellency,  it  is  the  truth." 

"Confound  it!"  ejaculated  the  consul.  "Then  a 
great  scoundrel  has  been  set  loose  again  to  prey  upon 
society  at  large." 

Further  inquiries  corroborated  this  statement. 

Hunston  had,  with  his  own  extraordinary  luck,  again 
escaped  the  most  terrible  danger  he  ever  ran. 

He  had  actually  been  taken  red-handed  by  the  outraged 
authorities,  who  did  not  scruple  to  take  the  lives  of  men 
who  were  comparatively  innocent,  and  yet  he  had  got 
off. 

The  only  condition  imposed  upon  him  was  that  he 
should  leave  the  island  at  once. 

This  he  and  his  companions  in  infamy  readily  promised 
to  do. 

The  consul  rang  again,  and  sent  for  a  native  clerk,  to 
whom  he  gave  some  directions  in  Spanish  and  dismissed 
him. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  only  overheard  the  name  of 
Ostani,  and  could  understand  no  more. 

"I  have  given  my  clerk  instructions,"  explained  the 
consul,  "to  write  out  two  or  three  copies  of  an  announce- 
ment concerning  Ostani,  or  Hunston,  as  you  call  him — 
offering  a  reward  for  his  capture," 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  121 

"  But  he  has  been  set  at  liberty." 

"He  was  set  free  by  the  Spanish  authorities  over  the 
other  business.  His  presence  was  unknown  to  those  he 
had  injured  during  his  residence  at  Havannah  and  other 
parts  of  the  island.  I  shall  place  the  notices  in  the  way 
of  people  who  I  know  have  been  deeply  injured  by 
Ostani,  and  believe  me,  if  you  will,  they  are  sure  to  make 
such  a  hubbub  that  his  escape  from  the  island  is  next  to 
an  impossibility." 

' '  And  if  he  is  caught  ?  " 

"  Leave  the  rest  to  me,"  said  the  consul,  nodding  sig- 
nificantly. 

Then  they  left  with  the  intention  of  calling  the  next 
day. 

They  strolled  towards  the  shore  for  the  purpose  of 
going  on  board  again,  and  on  their  way  dropped  into  a 
caf6. 

Here  they  called  for  something,  and  sat  down  to  refresh 
in  a  shady  part  of  the  place. 

"What  do  you  think  of  Cuba,  Dick?"  asked  Hark- 
away. 

"  Lovely  place." 

' '  And  the  people  ?  " 

Dick  replied  with  a  shrug. 

"Scarcely  know." 

"They  are  evidently  a  discontented,  foolish  lot,"  said 
Harkaway. 

"Hush!" 

"What's  the  matter?" 

"We  are  being  watched." 

"By  whom?" 

"That  evil-eyed,  black-muzzled-looking  fellow  behind 
there." 

"  Do  you  think  so?" 

"  I  am  sure  of  it. " 

' '  What  can  be  their  purpose  in  spying  upon  us  ?  " 

"  Strangers  are  looked  upon  with  suspicion  in  these 
troublesome  times,  and  we  are  liable  to  be  arrested  for 
nothing,  or  next  to  nothing." 

"  They  would  never  dare." 

Dick  laughed. 

' '  You  would  soon  see  whether  they  dared  or  not. 
They  would  have  no  more  compunction  about  tying 


122  JACK  HARKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

our  arms  behind  us,  putting  us  against  a  wall,  and  shoot* 
ing  us  down,  than  they  would  of  drowning  a  kitten. 
These  dons  are  nothing  if  not  bloodthirsty." 

Now  barely  were  these  words  uttered  when  a  man 
glided  from  close  behind  Harkaway. 

He  had  not  missed  a  word. 

The  shrubs  had  concealed  him  from  view,  and  he  had 
contrived  to  play  the  spy  there  with  a  vengeance. 

Harkaway  and  Dick  rose  to  stretch  their  legs  a  bit, 
and  strolled  out  of  the  garden. 

"Now,  barely  were  their  backs  turned  when  the  two 
men  who  were  watching  them  made  signs  of  significance 
to  each  other,  and  followed  closely  upon  their  heels. 

****** 

"Do  you  know,  Jack,"  said  Harvey,  "what  I  should 
like  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  responded  Harkaway,  with  a  yawn, 
"and  I  am  far  too  tired,  dear  boy,  to  exert  my  power  of 
divination." 

"I  should  like  to  drive  round  the  island  in  an  open 
carriage." 

Harkaway  burst  into  a  loud  fit  of  laughter  at  this. 

"Oh,  Dick,  Dick,"  he  said,  "I  always  knew  that  you 
were  not  a  great  geographer. " 

"Well,"  said  Dick,  humbly,  "  I  can't  really  say  that  I 
am." 

"But  hang  me  if  I  ever  thought  to  hear  any  one  speak 
of 'driving  round'  the  island  of  Cuba,  as  if  it  were  an- 
other Jersey,  Guernsey,  or  the  Isle  of  Wight." 

"Well,  no,  Jack  ;  but  what  is  the  extent  of  Cuba  ?  " 

"Why,  rather  more  than  the  entire  length  of  England 
and  Scotland,  taken  from  the  most  southern  part  of  Eng- 
land to  the  northernmost  point  of  Scotland." 

They  soon  strolled  out  of  the  town  and  enjoyed  the 
country  for  a  time. 

They  passed  by  whole  groves  of  orange  trees,  laden 
with  luscious  fruit. 

"  It  is  getting  late  enough  for  us  to  return,"  suggested 
Harkaway,  pausing  and  turning. 

"True  ;  we  have  some  distance  to  go,"  said  Harvey. 

They  turned  and  walked  briskly  on  until  they  neared 
the  town  when  they  were  suddenly  accosted  by  a  fierce- 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  123 

looking  sentry,  who  was  on  guard  at  one  of  the  out- 
posts. 

He  challenged  them  in  Spanish,  of  which  they  under- 
stood not  a  single  word,  and  Harkaway  replied  in  Eng- 
lish. 

' '  Habla  Espanol  ?  " 

"No." 

"He  is  challenging  us,"  remarked  Harvey  ;   "friends." 

" Amigos,"  said  Harkaway,  "and  there  goes  all  my 
Spanish. " 

"  Which  may,  or  may  not  be  correct,"  added  Harvey, 
laughing. 

"Americanos  ?"  demanded  the  sentry. 

Harkaway  shook  his  head. 

"  Inglese." 

"Bravo!"  said  Harvey,  laughing,  "you  are  getting 
quite  a  don  at  it." 

The  sentry  evidently  did  not  understand  what  was  said, 
for  he  took  the  laughter  in  bad  part,  and  growled  out 
something  in  his  own  tongue,  whereupon  they  looked 
blankly  at  each  other. 

"What  does  he  want?" 

"Can't  make  head  nor  tail  of  it,  for  my  part,"  said 
Harvey. 

"  Let  us  go,  then." 

They  attempted  to  move  by,  but  the  sentry  brought 
his  bayonet  to  the  charge. 

"  He  looks  like  mischief,"  said  Harkaway. 

"  He  means  it." 

"Come  on." 

Harkaway  was  carrying  a  stick,  so  with  a  flourish  he 
knocked  up  the  bayonet  and  pushed  on. 

But  the  sentry  quickly  recovered  himself,  dropped  back 
two  paces,  and  brought  his  bayonet  again  to  the  charge, 
using  some  very  hard-sounding  words,  as  he  did  so,  in 
his  native  tongue. 

"Hokey  pokey  rickeraboo,"  said  Harvey,  mimicking 
the  soldier's  tone  and  manner. 

The  sentry  grew  furious,  and  he  made  a  lunge  at  Har- 
vey, which  Harkaway  parried  dexterously. 

"Sword and  target  against  bayonet,"  said  Harvey. 

"  I  haven't  altogether  forgotten  the  old  practice,'1 
laughed  Harkaway. 


124  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Now,  had  they  contented  themselves  with  parrying 
this  warrior's  thrust,  it  might  not  have  gone  any  further, 
but  to  be  laughed  at  into  the  bargain  was  too  much  for 
the  dignity  of  one  of  the  most  pompous  of  a  people  pro- 
verbially possessed  of  more  pride  than  pence. 

The  soldier  swore  desperately  ;  at  least,  so  they  judged, 
for  of  course  they  could  not  understand  a  word  he  ut- 
tered, and  again  recovering  his  rifle,  he  suddenly  cocked 
it  and  covered  Harkaway. 
This  was  a  startler. 
What  was  to  be  done? 

"Shall  we  show  fight?"  demanded  Harkaway. 
"  No  ;  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valour,"  answered 
his  companion  ;   "drop  it." 
"What?" 

"The  game,  and  your  stick  too." 

Harkaway  let  fall  his  stick,  and  made  the  sentry  an  ex- 
travagant sign  of  submission. 

It  was  clear  that  they  were  laughing  at  him. 
However,  he  grounded  his  rifle,  and  the  next  miaute  a 
guard  of  four  men,  commanded  by  a  sergeant,   marched 
up. 

A  hurried  conversation  ensued  between  the  sentry  and 
the  sergeant,  in  which  the  only  words  that  they  could 
distinguish  were  "Inglese"and  "passports." 

"Does  anyone  here  speak  English? "  asked  Harkaway. 
"I  do,  a  little,"  said  the  sergeant. 
This  was  a  relief. 

"What  does  our  vigilant  friend  want  with  us,  captain  ?  " 
asked  Harvey. 

The  sergeant  smiled, 

The  mistake  in  his  grade  was  not  displeasing. 
'  He  wants  your  passports." 

'  Then  why  in  the  name  of  all  the  furies  couldn't  h* 
ask  for  them  ? " 

'  He  says  he  did." 

'Not  he." 

'  He  is  a  humbug,"  said  Harkaway. 

'  Do  you  understand  the  meaning  of  that,  captain  ?  " 

'Yes." 

'Tell  him,  then." 

'I  cannot  blame  my  man  for  being  vigilant." 

'True." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  125 

"But  he  rather  overdid  it,"  said  Harvey,  "and  he 
wasn't  polite." 

The  sergeant  smiled. 

"Give  me  your  passports,  and  if  they  are  correct,  you 
can  pass  on  in  peace." 

' '  Passports  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  We  don't  carry  any." 

"What,  no  passports?" 

"No." 

"  That  is,  to  say  the  least,  imprudent  in  such  times  as 
these  ;  I  must  trouble  you  to  fall  in  and  come  with  us." 

"Where?  " 

"To  the  guard  house." 

"What  for?" 

"Those  are  our  orders." 

The  two  Englishmen  began  to  look  glum. 

"What  shall  we  do,  Jack  ?"  said  Harvey,  in  a  whisper, 
' '  fight  or  go  ?  " 

"Fighting  for  preference,"  returned  Harkaway,  in  the 
same  tone  ;  "though  I  doubt  if  that  would  be  the  most 
prudent  course." 

'  Perhaps  not. " 

'  Go,  then  ?  " 

'  Yes  ;  it  can't  be  long  to  get  through  the  formalities." 

'  I  suppose  not. " 

'Now  then,  sir,"  said  the  sergeant,  "  fall  in — march." 

And  so  it  fell  out  that  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friend 
Dick  Harvey  passed  the  night  in  the  guardhouse. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

YOUNG  JACK  ASHORE — A  CUBAN  PRISON. 

You  may  imagine  their  sensations  on  board. 

Not  a  wink  of  sleep  did  anyone  of  their  party  get  tha* 
night,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  fairly  daylight,  young  Jack 
sought  his  mother's  cabin. 

"Dad  did  not  come  back  last  night  ?  "  he  said. 

"No." 

"Do  you  think,  mamma,  that  anything  could  have 
happened  to  them  ? " 


1 26  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"Scarcely." 

But  the  look  of  anxiety  on  her  face  belied  her  words. 
She  was  pale,  and  young  Jack  could  perceive  plainly 
enough  the  traces  of  tears  upon  her  cheeks. 
"  I  can  see  you  are  uneasy,  mamma." 
"No,  no,  Jack." 

"You  can't   tell  me,"  insisted  her  son,  "but  you  are 
mistaken.     Tears  upon  my  father's  account  are  thrown 
away.     He  knows  how  to  take  care  of  himself." 
"Of  course." 

"  Don't  say  of  course,  as  if  it  is  meant  only  to  satisfy 
me  and  to  leave  you  just  as  uneasy  as  before,"  said  young 
Jack.  "  My  father,"  he  added  proudly,  "is  a  match  for 
a  good  many  men  in  courage,  in  strength,  or  in  wit — and 
with  Uncle  Dick  (as  he  called  Harvey  occasionally)  I 
would  undertake  to  say  they  are  fit  to  meet  the  most 
formidable  enemies." 

"  Then  you  think  that  they  have  met  enemies  ?  " 
He  paused. 

"I  don't  know  ;  but  I  will  go  in  quest  of  father  and 
Harvey. " 

Having  heard  his  father  speak  of  the  consul,  young 
Jack  thought  that  he  could  not  do  better  than  go  there 
himself. 

The   consul  was   fortunately   an  early  man,  so  when 
young  Jack  sent  up  his  name,  he  was  shown  in  at  once. 
"Mr.    John    Harkaway  ! "  he    said,    as    young    Jack 

entered  ;    "why,  I  thought  that " 

"  Jack  Harkaway,  sir — not  John,"  said  young  Jack  ;  1 
am  the  son  of  Mr.   Harkaway,  you  know." 
'  Your  face  and  voice  proclaim  that." 
'  I  come  to  ask  news  of  my  father." 
'  "he  consul  opened  his  eyes  wide  at  this. 
'  News  ?  " 
'Yes,  sir." 
'  What  news  ?  " 

'  Is  it  possible  you  don't  know,  sir?" 
'  Know  what  ? " 

'That  my  father  has  not  been  back  on  board." 
'  Not  all  night  ?  " 
'No." 

'This  is  very  strange." 
'It  is,  very — and  it  has  made  us  very  uncomfortable." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  127 

"No  doubt.  But  these  are  ticklish  times  to  live  in," 
said  the  consul,  "  and  perhaps  they  have  been  arrested 
on  suspicion  by  the  military." 

' '  For  what  ? " 

"The  insurgents  get  supplies  in  a  way  that  baffles 
them  altogether." 

"But  they  cannot  suspect  my  father  in  this ? " 

"They  suspect  anybody." 

"Supposing  he  should  be  arrested,  where  would  he  be 
taken  ? " 

"They  would  be  taken  to  one  of  the  prisons.  How- 
ever, we  will  waste  no  more  time,  young  gentleman,  but 
just  make  our  round,  without  waiting  until  they  can  come 
to  any  further  harm." 

They  started  together. 

On  calling  at  the  first  prison,  the  consul  contrived  to 
get  the  information  he  required  respecting  Harkaway  and 
Harvey. 

They  were  not  locked  up  there,  but  he  found  out  where 
they  were. 

And  when  they  were  found,  it  was  no  trifling  cause  for 
alarm  to  discover  they  were  treated  as  the  regular  insur- 
gent prisoners. 

The  consul  applied  for  permission  to  visit  them,  but 
this  was  denied  him. 

Now,  the  consul  happened  to  know  the  magistrate  very 
well,  so  he  lost  no  time  in  seeing  him. 

"  I  remember  these  two  people,"  he  said  to  the  consul  : 
"they  are  desperate  fellows,  I  am  told.  One  of  them 
would  have  used  violence  to  the  sentry  on  duty." 

"  Indeed? " 

"Yes  ;  but  fortunately  they  will  have  an  Opportunity 
of  giving  an  account  of  themselves  to  me  within  a 
week." 

'  A  week  ?  " 
•Yes." 

'  And  then  ? "  asked  the  consul. 

'  Yes,  sir,"  added  young  Jack,  eagerly,  "  what  then  ? " 
'  If  their  innocence  is  clear  to  me,  they  will  be  set  at 
liberty." 

"But  supposing " 

The  poor  boy  began  in  faltering  tones,  but  could  not 
proceed. 


128  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

To  anticipate  anything  but  a  favorable  result  was 
heartbreaking. 

"I  know  what  you  would  say,"  interrupted  the  alcade. 
"If  there  should  be  any  doubt,  why,  then  they  will  have 
an  opportunity  of  clearing  themselves  before  a  legal 
tribunal,  for  I  never  pass  a  capital  sentence  myself." 

Young  Jack  turned  pale. 

The  remotest  possibility  of  such  a  contingency  filled 
him  with  dread. 

"You  do  not  think,  sir,  that  there  is  any  danger  of  my 
father  and  his  friend  not  clearing  themselves  ? " 

"I  can't  possibly  say,"  he  replied,  with  a  piercing 
glance  at  Jack. 

The  alcade  then  made  out  and  signed  the  order  for 
their  admission  to  see  the  prisoners,  and  they  left  the 
place. 

They  walked  on  in  silence. 

The  consul  feared  that  the  alcade  might  not  dare  to  set 
the  English  prisoners  free. 

In  a  very  short  time  they  reached  the  prison. 

It  was  a  tall,  frowning  fortress,  built  upon  the  rocks 
fronting  the  sea,  which  washed  the  base  of  the  build- 
ing. 

The  entrance  was  through  a  huge  iron  door,  that 
"swung  sullenly  ajar,"  and  struck  a  chill  to  young  Jack. 

"My  poor  dad  !  poor  Mr.  Harvey  !  "  he  said.  "They 
must  indeed  be  wretched  here. " 

The  door  swung  back. 

They  stepped  forward  just  as  a  noisy  burst  of  laughter 
rang  out,  and  there  they  saw  the  two  prisoners. 

They  were  playing  at  cards  on  a  rough  wooden  bench 
and  yelling  with  laughter  at  something  that  Harvey  had 
just  then  said. 

Beside  them,  upon  the  table,  were  cigars  and  wine. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  129 


- 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

PRISON  BREAKING THREE  TO  THE  RESCUE. 

"JACK  !" 

"Dad!" 

Father  and  son  embraced. 

Dick  and  the  consul  shook  hands. 

' '  Well,  sir, "  said  Harkaway,  ' '  these  are  pretty  diggings 
to  put  two  gentlemen  in." 

"I  can't  compliment  your  Spanish  friends,"  added  Har- 
vey, laughing,  "  upon  their  hospitality  to  strangers." 

"You  don't  appear  to  be  very  sad  over  it,"  said  the 
consul. 

"Not  I.  But  have  you  brought  the  order  for  our  re- 
lease ? " 

"No." 

"At  any  rate,  we  have  to  thank  you  for  attending. 
I  suppose  you  did  not  get  my  message  last  night  ? " 

"  I  have  had  no  message  from  you  at  all." 

"Are  you  sure?  " 

"Yes." 

"That  is  strange.  I  sent  you  word  as  soon  as  we 
came  here  last  night." 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Harkaway,"  said  the  consul,  gravely, 
"allow  me  to  tell  you  every  thing  is  done  irregularly  now, 
or  not  at  all." 

"  Well,  I  know  that  our  coming  here  was  precious  ir- 
regular," said  Harvey. 

"And  our  getting  out  ought  perhaps  to  be  in  keep- 
ing." 

The  consul  seized  upon  this  chance  shot  at  once. 

"That's  it,  as  irregular  as  you  pleasef  only  get  out  as 
quickly  as  possible." 

Harvey  and  Jack  looked  through  the  barred  window. 

The  sea  flowed  beneath,  but  there  was  a  drop  of  thirty 
feet  to  reach  it. 

The  consul  looked  down  into  the  water  and  talked  to 
9 


I30  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

himself  thoughtfully,  in  a  way  that  was  meant  for  the 
prisoners  to  hear. 

"  It  is  a  long  way  down  ;  it  would  want  a  bold  man 
and  a  strong  swimmer  to  tackle  that  leap." 

"I  have  dived  from  as  great  a  height  before  now,  "said 
Harkaway. 

"  Have  you  ?  " 

"Indeed,  I  have." 

"And  you,  Mr.  Harvey?" 

"  I  shouldn't  think  much  of  it,"  replied  the  light-hearted 
Dick ;  "if  there  was  a  boat  there  or  within  half  a  mile  or 
so,  I  would  precious  soon  show  them  a  clean  pair  of  heels 
here. " 

"And  would  you  recommend "  began  Harkaway. 

"I  recommend  nothing,"  answered  the  consul,  warily  ; 
"it  is  for  you  to  help  yourselves." 

Harkaway  called  young  Jack  to  his  side,  and  then  gave 
him  some  hurried  directions  in  a  low  but  expressive  voice, 
while  the  consul  discreetly  remained  out  of  hearing. 

"At  dusk,  Jack,"  said  Harkaway,   "  you  understand  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Don't  leave  it  till  dark,  for  fear  of  mistaking  the  direc- 
tion." 

' '  Never  fear  me. " 

"Have  only  one  man  with  you,  for  this  is  desperate 
work. 

"  Have  materials  on  you  for  getting  a  light,  or  still  bet- 
ter carry  a  lantern  ;  keep  it  covered  over  until  you  know 
we  are  off." 

"  How  shall  I  know?  " 

"  By  a  signal." 

"  What  is  it  to  be?" 

"Let  us  wave  our  light  three  times  at  the  window  just 
before  we  leap." 

"  I  understand,"  said  young  Jack,  eagerly. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  boy  !  Keep  a  firm  heart,  and  you 
will  bring  us  off  safely. " 

"Now,  Master  Harkaway  !  "  said  the  consul. 

"  Time  to  go,  sir?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  your  father." 

"  I  am  ready,  sir." 

And  then,  with  a  significant  nod  and  glance,  young  Jack 
and  the  consul  took  their  departure. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  131 

Towards  sundown  young  Jack  begged  permission  to  go 
ashore  in  a  boat. 

"  You  can,  Master  Jack,"  said  the  captain,  "with  pleas- 
ure, if  you  are  going  to  fetch  Mr.  Harkaway." 

"I  am  going  for  that  purpose,  captain." 

The  skipper  gave  him  permission  also  to  take  one  of  the 
crew  with  him. 

Young  Jack  went  to  select  a  likely  man,  and  going 
aft,  he  met  Harry  Girdwood,  talking  with  a  sailor  whose 
face  was  certainly  familiar  to  him. 

The  sailor  evidently  knew  young  Jack,  for  he  pulled 
his  forelock  at  him  in  salute. 

"  How's  Nero  by  this  time,  your  honour? " 

Young  Jack  recollected  him  at  once  then. 

It  was  Ben  Hawser. 

You  will  remember  that  Ben  Hawser  was  the  original 
owner  of  the  big  monkey,  Nero. 

"What,  Ben  !  "  said  Jack.      "  What  cheer,  my  hearty  ? " 

"  Your  honour  didn't  obsarve  poor  Ben  aboard.  But  I 
seen  your  honour  often." 

"Then  you  must  have  been  too  proud  to  speak  to  an 
old  friend,  Ben." 

This  appeared  to  tickle  the  old  tar  immensely. 

And  as  they  were  talking,  it  occurred  to  young  Jack 
that  Ben  Hawser  would  be  the  very  man  to  row  him  up 
to  the  prison  where  his  father  was  confined. 

"I  am  going  ashore,  Ben,"  said  young  Jack,  "and  I 
want  someone  to  row  me." 

"I'm  the  man." 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  some  danger,"  said  young  Jack. 

"Blow  danger, "said  Ben  Hawser,  heartily.  "I'll  jest 
get  the  skipper's  permission." 

"No  need  for  that ;  I  have  got  it  already." 

' '  That's  hearty. " 

"  I'm  with  you  too,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

"Very  good,  Harry.  I  had  orders  to  have  only  one 
man  with  me,  but  there  can  be  no  harm  in  your  going." 

"I  should  think  not." 

They  got  a  lantern  and  matches,  and  prepared  to  muffle 
their  oars  when  they  should  be  a  mile  out  from  the 
ship. 

Then  they  got  a  couple  of  muskets,  a  cutlass,  and  a 
brace  of  revolvers. 


132  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Jack  thought  it  best  to  be  prepared  for  all  emergencies, 
for  there  must  be  no  mistake  in  this  work. 

They  were  soon  under  way,  and  pulling  at  a  good  rate 
towards  the  prison  in  which  Harkaway  and  Harvey  were 
confined. 

"Now,"  cried  young  Jack,  "I'll  tell  you  both  where 
we  are  going.     Do  you  see  that  building  over  there  ?  " 
'Yes." 

'  My  father  and  Mr.  Harvey  are  in  prison  there." 
'  Prison  !  "  cried  Ben  Hawser.      "Avast  there." 
'They  are,  Ben,  and  they  are  in  great  danger." 
'Of  what?" 
'Their  lives." 

'What  have  they  done? "  asked  Harry  Girdwood. 
'Nothing." 

'Then  how  came  these  lubberly  dons  to " 

'They  don't  care  much  whether  it  is  right  or  wrong," 
answered  young  Jack,  anticipating  his  question.      ' '  Might 
is  right,  nowadays,  here,  so  we  must  get  my  poor  dad  and 
uncle  out  of  prison  before  the  night  is  over." 
"We  will!" 

"We  will  !  "  said  Ben  Hawser,  "or  I'm  the  biggest  land- 
lubber that  ever  turned  a  quid." 
It  was  dark  by  now. 

They  muffled  their  oars  in  silence,  for  they  were  within 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  shore,  and  the  greatest  precaution 
was  necessary. 

"  Now  for  the  lantern." 

It  was  lighted  and  held  aloft  by  Harry  Girdwood. 
And  in  the  pitch  darkness  of  night,  they  shipped  their 
oars  and  lay  to,  watching  in  breathless  anxiety  for  the 
signal  from  the  prison  window. 

The  fortress  looked  dark  and  frowning. 
Not  a  glimmer  of  light  could  be  seen  at  any  part  of  it. 
Presently  there  was  a  roll  of  drums. 
"Hark,"  cried  young  Jack,  "  what  can  that  mean  ?  per- 
haps danger  to  my  father." 
Then  all  was  still. 

The  silence  grew  oppressive,  and  poor  young  Jack  be- 
gan, in  spite  of  himself,  to  be  filled  with  uneasiness. 
"I  hope  there  is  nothing  amiss." 

"Keep  up  your  pecker  and  your  patience,  Master  Hark- 
away,"  said  Ben  Hawser ;  "  it'll  all  be  right  yet" 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  133 

"I  hope  so." 

"I'm  sure  of  it." 

They  waited  probably  for  about  half  an  hour. 

And  then  their  patience  was  rewarded. 

A  light  was  seen  at  the  window. 

"There  it  goes,"  they  exclaimed  all  three  together. 

"Answer  !  "  cried  young  Jack. 

"How?" 

"With  the  light,  quick." 

So  saying  he  snatched  it  from  Harry  Girdwood,  and 
waved  the  lantern  backwards  and  forwards  three  times. 

The  latter  was  waved  at  the  window  again  thrice. 

"Hurrah  !  "  said  Ben,  shouting  in  a  whisper — rather  a 
difficult  thing  to  do,  by  the  way — "they  see  us.  Look, 
they  are  giving  the  countersign." 

"I  see." 

"In  an  hour,  please  God,  we'll  have  them  safe  aboard," 
said  young  Jack. 

But  their  work  was  not  yet  over. 

Danger  and  death  were  near  Harkaway  and  Dick  Har- 
vey. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A  LEAP  FOR  LIFE  AND  A  FLYING  SHOT. 

HARKAWAY  and  his  friend  Dick  Harvey  had  been  await- 
ing nightfall  in  considerable  anxiety. 

The  former's  only  fear  was  that  young  Jack  would  be 
over  eager  to  get  off,  and  not  curb  his  impatience  until  it 
would  be  safe  to  venture  afloat  near  the  prison. 

Harvey  watched  at  the  window  while  Harkaway  listened 
at  the  door. 

"Will  he  never  come  ?"  said  Harkaway,  impatiently 

"  There  is  something  wrong,  I  fear." 

"  I  fear  it  is  so." 

"  It  must  be." 

But  even  as  they  spoke,  there  was  a  faint  glimmering  of 
light  seen  upon  the  water. 

"  See  there  !  "  cried  Harkaway, 

"Where?" 


134 


HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


"  Look,  look  out  at  sea  —  that  speck  dancing-  there  upon 
the  waves.  " 

"  I  see,  I  see  !  "  said  Harvey  ;  "it  grows  larger  —  they 
signal  us.  Huzzah  !  " 

"  Hush  !  be  cautious." 

'  '  Here,  "  cried  Harvey,  '  '  you  take  the  lantern  and  wave 
it  three  times  as  we  agreed." 

This  was  done  ;  then  they  waited  and  watched  in  the 
most  intense  anxiety  for  a  few  minutes. 

"  Look,  they  answer  it  ! 

The  light  was  waved  from  the  boat  out  at  sea. 

Harvey  gave  the  countersign. 

"  Now  for  it." 

Harkaway  left  the  door. 

His  heart  was  beating  quickly  as  the  moment  drew 
near. 

He  mounted  on  a  chair  as  Harvey  clambered  to  the 
window  sill. 

"  Now  for  it,"  said  Harvey. 

"Wait  one  moment!  Lower  yourself  a  little  way  at 
least,  and  then  drop." 

"  No,  no  !  better  jump  the  whole  way." 

"  It  is  a  fearful  leap,  Dick." 

"Right,  old  boy,  but  it  is  for  life.  I  must  jump  out 
into  deep  water  ;  if  I  drop  straight  down,  I  may  fall  on 
the  rocks.  " 

"True,  Jack  ;  now,  then,  a  bold  leap  and  off." 

"Hark!" 

'  '  What  was  that  ?  " 

A  roll  of  drums  ! 

A  heavy  tread  of  soldiers. 

It  was  unusual  —  it  was  an  alarming  sound,  and  they 
began  to  look  blank. 

"  They  have  discovered  something,"  said  Harvey. 

"I  fear  so,"  cried  Jack;  "if  we  are  discovered  our 
death  is  certain." 

"What  shall  we  do?" 

Harkaway  paused  a  moment  to  consider. 

"  Better  make  a  dash  for  it,  and  chance  a  leap  for  life, 
old  boy.  " 

"  Good!" 

Harvey  turned  to  the  window,  and  prepared  for  the 
jump. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  135 

He  held  out  his  hand  behind  him,  and  Harkaway  seized 
it  eagerly — a  silent  pressure  from  the  true  and  old  friends 
told  all  they  had  to  say  to  each  other. 

They  were  brave  men,  but  the  peril  before  them  was 
deadly,  and  it  was  just  possible  that  they  might  nerer  look 
upon  each  other  more  in  this  world. 

The  grasp  was  full  of  meaning  to  those  two  bold  hearts. 

"  Now  for  it  !  " 

Dick  Harvey  planted  his  feet  firmly  upon  the  ledge,  and 
then  he  made  a  desperate  leap  into  the  dark  waters. 

At  the  self-same  moment  a  rifle  was  fired  under  the 
window. 

Harkaway 's  heart  beat  quick  with  dread  for  his  old 
friend. 


Harkaway  clambered  up  eagerly. 

He  looked  down,  down  into  the  black  sullen  water. 

But  he  heard  no  splash. 

"  Bang!" 

Again  a  loud  report  from  a  rifle. 

He  saw  no  signs  of  Dick. 

He  had  not  yet  risen  to  the  surface. 

He  waited  and  watched  until  his  eyes  ached  with  the 
intensity  of  their  gaze. 

No  signs  of  Dick. 

It  seemed  an  age. 

"Oh,  Dick!  oh,  Dick!"  cried  Harkaway,  lifting  his 
voice  in  agony,  "  what  shall  I  do  if  you  are  gone,  killed 
by  these  bloodhounds,  brave  heart  ?  My  best  and  noblest 
friend,  where  shall  I  replace  your  loss  ?  " 

Craning  over,  straining  his  eyes  until  it  seemed  as 
though  they  would  burst  from  their  sockets. 

And  presently  the  reward  for  his  patience  came. 

He  saw  a  figure  dashing  through  the  water. 

By  degrees  he  could  detect  the  outline  of  a  human  form 
battling  boldly  with  the  waves. 

"  Bravo,  Dick  !  bravo,  old  man  !  "  cried  Harkaway, 
excitedly. 

But  then,  as  the  swimmer  progressed  rapidly,  his 
anxiety  grew  less. 

He  felt  sure  that  Dick  was  safe. 

And  turning  from  the  window  for  a  moment,  he  ran  to 


136  fA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

the  door  of  the  cell  to  listen,  for  he  fancied  that  he  heard 
the  tramp  of  the  gaoler  in  the  stone-paved  passage. 

"  Yes  ;  he's  coming  !  " 

This  was  unlucky. 

"  What  was  to  be  done  ?  " 

Before  he  could  reflect  upon  this  the  door  was  unbarred 
and  thrown  open. 

The  gaoler  entered. 

"  The  sentry  says  it  is  from  here,"  he  began  as  he  came 
in,  "but  he  must  be  as  mad  as  an  Englisman  to  say  so — 
hullo  ! " 

Harkaway  had  squatted  down  again  upon  a  bench  in 
the  middle  of  the  cell,  and  was  endeavoring  to  look  as 
innocent  and  as  unconcerned  as  possible. 

"  Hullo!" 

Harkaway  nodded  with  a  cheerful  air. 

' '  Where  is  the  other  ? " 

"  Which  other?" 

"  Your  friend  and  fellow-prisoner,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  have  neither  ;  don't  you  see  I'm  alone." 

The  man  now  began  to  perceive  that  he  was  being 
fooled,  so  he  moved  angrily  towards  the  door. 

Harkaway  slipped  sharply  after  him,  and  blocked  up 
the  doorway. 

"  Stand  aside,"  said  the  gaoler,  who  somehow  did  not 
like  the  look  of  the  prisoner. 

Harkaway  made  no  reply,  but  dropping  upon  the  man 
with  sudden  fierceness,  he  toppled  him  over  and  bore  him 
to  the  ground. 

"  If  you  say  half  a  word,"  hissed  the  prisoner  in  the 
gaoler's  ear,  "I'll  put  an  end  to  you." 

The  man  was  silent. 

His  face  showed  what  he  felt,  and  this  was  any  thing 
but  pleasant. 

"Lay  there,"  said  Harkaway,  getting  up.  "Keep 
quiet,  and  you'll  not  be  hurt.  Breathe  but  a  word, 
and " 

He  said  no  more,  but  his  looks  told  their  own  tale. 

Harkaway  jumped  up  to  the  window  and  looked  out. 

It  had  all  taken  place  in  a  moment,  and  the  boat  was 
still  apparently  in  the  same  spot. 

The  light  was  still  shining  at  the  boat's  head,  but  there 
were  no  signs  of  the  swimmer. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  137 

"  He  is  safe  on  board  by  now,"  said  Harkaway. 

Barely  were  the  words  uttered  when  he  had  to  turn 
round  to  see  what  was  taking  place  in  the  cell. 

The  gaoler,  being  relieved  from  the  prisoner's  unpleasant 
attentions,  had  crawled  on  his  stomach  to  the  door  and 
given  the  alarm. 

Armed  men  ran  in,  and  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
write  the  word,  Jack  Harkaway  was  covered  by  no  less 
than  five  rifles. 

"  Yield  !  "  cried  the  gaoler. 

"  Pickles  !  "  returned  Harkaway. 

And  then,  before  they  could  have  an  idea  of  his  inten- 
tion, he  waved  his  hands  and  leaped  out  of  the  window. 

Stupefied  for  a  moment,  the  men  sprang  forward  to  the 
window,  and  one  of  them  stared  down  into  the  pitchy 
darkness. 

"  There  he  goes,"  cried  the  soldier. 

Several  others  sprang  up. 

They  crowded  to  the  window. 

Muskets  were  pointed — hurried  sights  were  taken  at  the 
something  moving,  which  they  took  to  be  the  prisoner, 
and  a  sharp  succession  of  reports  followed. 

And  then  they  watched  anxiously  until  the  smoke 
cleared  away,  to  see  if  their  aim  had  been  as  deadly  as 
they  had  hoped. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  VASTY   DEEP  ! — A  MEETING   IN   MID-OCEAN. 

JACK  HARKAWAY,  the  elder,  went  down,  down,  down, 
until  his  breath  was  almost  cut  by  the  terrible  flight 
through  the  air. 

At  length — ah,  it  seemed  a  terrible  time — he  struck 
the  water.  He  went  below,  and  his  downward  flight 
was  checked. 

He  sailed  along  in  semi-unconsciousness  for  awhile, 
and  then,  as  the  cool  water  revived  him,  he  struck  up- 
wards. 

He  shook  the  water  from  his  eyes  and  face,  and  looked 
about  him. 


138  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Yes,  there  was  the  light  still. 

He  struck  out  for  it,  and  after  swimming  awhile,  he 
shouted  out  with  all  his  might  and  main,  and  then  turned 
over  on  his  back  and  floated  with  long  and  vigorous 
strokes  towards  it. 

But  while  he  was  floating  thus,  his  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  the  window  of  the  prison  from  which  he  had  just 
leapt,  and  suddenly  he  saw  there  that  he  was  the  object 
of  most  unpleasant  attentions  upon  the  part  of  the  author- 
ities. 

There  was  a  flash — a  report — and  a  rifle  bullet  struck 
the  water  close  by  Jack  Harkaway's  head. 

"That's  enough  for  me,"  said  Harkaway. 

And  down  he  went  under  water. 

Now,  as  he  breasted  the  surface  again,  he  ran  foul  of 
some  dark  object  that  thrilled  him  with  fear. 

So  quick  is  thought,  that  he  went  through  a  whole 
drama  of  horrors  in  his  fancy — all,  as  it  were,  in  a  flash. 

He  thought  it  was  a  shark. 

The  monster  of  the  deep  would  have  have  had  him 
in  his  ghastly  maw  in  a  moment,  and  then  good-bye 
to  all. 

Good-bye  to  the  world ;  to  his  hopes  and  fears  ;  to  his 
love,  and  fancies  generally — he  would  never  be  able  to 
look  again  upon  his  Emily  or  his  boy. 

Good-bye  to 

Hullo  ! 

Why,  it  was  not  a  shark ;  it  was  about  as  different 
from  a  shark,  in  point  of  fact,  as  any  thing  could  well 
be. 

It  was  a  man,  and,  like  Harkaway,  a  fugitive. 

He,  too,  was  swimming  towards  that  light  on  the  sea. 

Yes,  swimming  for  dear  life. 

"  Help  !  oh,  help  me  !  "  gasped  the  swimmer. 

"I've  scarce  strength  to  save  myself,"  replied  Hark- 
away,  faintly. 

"I  sink  !  "  faltered  the  other.  " I  sink  !  I  die  !  Oh, 
help  !  " 

Harkaway  was  sorely  distressed. 

Yet  he  was  not  the  man  to  leave  a  fellow-creature  in 
peril,  and  so,  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  he  turned  to  lend 
a  hand  to  the  sinking  man. 

Just  then  there  was  another  flash  at  the  fortress  window. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


'39 


Then  a  report. 

And  then  a  ball  whizzed  past  Harkaway,  and  struck 
the  unfortunate  man  beside  him  in  the  water. 

"Oh,  mercy  !  "  cried  the  unfortunate  wretch. 

He  threw  up  his  arms  in  his  agony,  and  sank. 

Down,  down,  he  dropped,  like  a  lead  end  of  a  line,  and 
down  went  Harkaway  after  him. 

What  ensued  was  the  work  of  a  minute. 

To  help  an  unfortunate  fellow-creature  was  with  Jack 
Harkaway  a  sort  of  instinct. 

Had  he  been  able  to  reason  it,  he  would  surely  never 
have  ventured  upon  such  rashness ;  for  he  was  already 
so  much  exhausted  himself  that  his  preservation  hung,  as 
it  were,  upon  a  mere  thread. 

As  it  was,  he  seized  the  wounded  and  drowning  man 
by  the  hair,  and  made  a  vigorous  stroke  upwards. 

A  little  more,  and  it  would  have  been  too  late. 

His  strength,  his  senses  were  fast  leaving  him. 

"  Hold  up  !"  gasped  Harkaway.  "Now  strike  out — 
both  arms — both,  I  say  !  " 

A  voice  that  was  familiar  then  rang  in  his  ears  in  wel- 
come words  of  encouragement. 
'  Keep  up  !  " 
'  That's  right !  " 
'  One  more  !  " 
'  Bravo !  " 

'  Boldly  done,  my  hearty ;  never  saw  a  betterer,  as 
sure  as  my  cognomen's  Hawser. " 

And  as  the  words  were  uttered,  a  pair  of  strong  hands 
grasped  the  exhausted  Harkaway  by  the  hair,  and  he 
was  unceremoniously  lifted  out  of  the  water  and  dragged 
into  the  boat. 

The  man  that  Harkaway  had  saved  was  likewise  cared 
for. 

And  then  the  oars  were  unshipped,  and  while  two  of 
the  party  bestowed  every  care  upon  the  half-drowned 
men,  the  others  rowed  desperately  out  of  musket  range 
of  the  fortress. 

And  as  they  rowed  away  in  silence,  the  moon  burst 
through  the  inky  clouds  and  shed  a  silvery  ray  across 
the  boat. 

It  fell  across  the  face  of  the  unfortunate  stranger,  upon 
whom  the  boat's  crew — including  Harkaway,  who  had 


T40  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

recovered  from  his  exhaustion  in  some  degree — were 
exerting  their  best  cares  to  bring  him  round. 

The  aim  of  the  soldier  who  had  fired  from  the  fortress 
window  had  been  too  true. 

The  ball  had  struck  the  water  first,  and  so  was  partly 
spent  before  touching  the  unfortunate  man,  otherwise 
nothing  could  have  saved  him. 

As  it  was,  it  had  inflicted  an  ugly  wound  upon  his  head, 
from  which  the  blood  gushed,  saturating  his  face,  and 
covering  it  in  a  mask  of  gore. 

They  washed  it  off  as  tenderly  as  possible,  and 
staunched  the  wound  with  a  soaked  handkerchief. 

And  then,  as  the  silver  moonlight  fell  upon  that  pallid, 
ghastly  face,  young  Jack  recognised  the  features. 

He  gave  a  cry  of  horror. 

"Father,  father,  look  !  " 

"Where?    What?" 

"  Don't  you  remember  him  now,  father  ?     Look  !  " 

The  elder  Harkaway  glanced  again  at  the  newly- 
rescued  man,  and  a  cry  of  amazement,  disgust,  wonder, 
disappointment,  burst  from  him. 

"  Merciful  Heaven  !     It's  Hunston  !  " 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

HUNSTON  ! 

THE  notices  which  the  British  consul  caused  to  be 
written  out  by  his  clerk  and  posted  about  caused  great 
excitement. 

The  notices  had  been  posted  in  the  quarters  where 
Sefior  Ostani,  otherwise  Hunston,  had  been  well  known. 

In  less  than  an  hour  there  were  many  persons  on  the 
hunt  after  Ostani. 

Information  was  zealously  sought  after  concerning  the 
movements  of  the  released  prisoners,  and  some  reliable 
particulars  were  gleaned.  They  had  not  left  the  island. 

No  sooner  was  this  known  than  a  regular  plan  was 
organised  for  their  pursuit. 

The  coast  was  guarded  by  a  number  of  those  whom 
the  English  scoundrel  had  victimised. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  141 

Every  boat  was  keenly  scrutinised. 

Now,  while  the  excitement  which  this  created  was  at 
its  height,  two  men,  greatly  interested  in  the  matter, 
stood  reading  the  proclamation,  which  was  posted  up  at 
the  consulate  door. 

One  of  these  was  a  one-armed  man. 

Next  him  stood  a  tall  fellow,  of  herculean  build,  whose 
fine  proportions  were  shown  off  to  great  advantage  by  a 
long  riding  cloak. 

It  made  his  figure  look  colossal. 

' '  Diavolo  ! "  exclaimed  the  latter  under  his  breath. 
"This  is  a  serious  job,  Hunst " 

"No  names  !  "  interrupted  his  companion,  affrightedly. 
"We  are  observed." 

"Where?" 

"Behind  there." 

Surely  enough,  too,  there  was  a  man  watching  them 
with  great  interest. 

They  exchanged  a  few  hurried  whispers,  and  sauntered 
off. 

As  soon  as  they  were  free  from  the  attentions  of  the 
person  who  had  excited  their  suspicions,  Hunston  spoke 
to  his  companion — who  was  none  other  than  the  ex- 
brigand  Toro. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  he  had  been  strangely 
carried  off  after  his  desperate  fight  with  Jefferson. 

"Lend  me  your  cloak  ;  it  will  hide  my  deformity.  The 
loss  of  an  arm  fixes  my  identity  to  the  casual  observer." 

The  cloak  was  exchanged. 

"Now,  what  is  your  advice  ?  "  asked  Hunston. 

"I  think  it  would  be  safer  to  remain  in  the  town  till 
nightfall,  and  then  have  a  boat  sent  ashore  for  you." 

' '  You're  right, "  returned  Hunston,  ' '  but  great  care 
must  be  observed." 

"It  must." 

"The  boat  had  better  be  sent  ashore  out  of  the  town." 

"When?" 

' '  Let  me  see. " 

They  thought  it  over  for  a  while,  and  then  Toro  had  a 
Suggestion  to  offer. 

"You  know  where  the  fortress  is  situated  ?  " 

"Well?" 

"They  shall  pull  ashore  there  and  fetch  you." 


142  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Good." 

"True." 

And  so  they  parted. 

It  was  agreed  that  a  rocket  should  be  fired  from  th» 
ship  before  the  boat  left. 

Hunston  strolled  about  to  kill  time  before  nightfall,  and 
in  his  rambles  he  came  to  a  public  garden  where  music 
and  dancing  were  going  forward. 

On  entering,  he  had  resolved  merely  to  call  for  some 
refreshments,  and  to  take  it  in  a  remote  corner,  so  as  to 
avoid  all  accidents. 

But  this  was  not  to  be. 

Hunston  was  recognised  almost  immediately. 

He  saw  it,  and  slipping  out,  made  off  at  full  speed. 

Then,  with  loud  outcries,  the  whole  of  the  company 
fled  after  him  and  gave  chase. 

The  hunt,  however,  such  as  it  was,  was  but  short- 
lived. 

No  signs  of  the  fugitive  could  they  discover. 

Thanks  to  his  knowledge  of  the  locality,  he  managed 
very  soon  to  get  out  of  danger. 

Out  of  danger  for  the  present,  at  least. 

But  it  was  by  no  means  over. 

He  had  to  reach  the  coast  by  a  circuitous  route,  so  as 
to  be  in  readiness  for  the  signal  from  the  ship. 

And  then,  for  two  long,  weary  hours,  he  prowled  about 
in  anxious  expectation,  waiting  and  watching,  and  full  of 
weariness, 

Would  they  never  come  ? 

Would  they  never  send  up  that  signal  rocket  ?  It  seemed 
so. 


"There  it  goes  !" 

From  that  moment  the  wretched  man  was  not  alone. 

Two  of  his  Cuban  foes  glided  after  him  as  he  move( 
along  towards  the  sea-shore,  for  they  had  seen  the  rocke 
which  Hunston's  comrades  had  sent  up,  as  the  signa 
agreed  upon  for  the  departure  of  the  boat,  and  this  ha< 
excited  their  attention. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  recognised  IT; 
the  mysterious  man  in  the  cloak  the  traitorous  Ostani, 
upon  whose  head,  so  to  speak,  a  price  was  set. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  143 

"Caramba  !  "  murmured  one  to  the  other  in  an  under- 
tone; "it  is  Ostani  himself." 

"After  him,  then,  and  let  us  make  sure  of  him." 

"Good." 

They  soon  caught  up  with  him,  and  then,  with  a  hand 
on  each  shoulder,  they  brought  him  up  to  a  standstill. 
'Stand!" 

'  How  now  ?  "  ejaculated  Hunston,  turning  round. 
'  You  are  our  prisoner." 
'  What  for  ?  " 

'That  you  shall  answer  to  the  alcade." 
'Pah  !  "  ejaculated  Hunston,  turning  round;  "unhand 
me,  or " 

But  instead  of  complying,  they  only  clutched  him  the 
more  firmly,  whereupon  a  short  but  sharp  struggle  took 
place. 

Hunston,  however,  contrived  to  shake  them  off. 

And  then  he  darted  forward,  and  made  a  desperate  run 
of  it  towards  the  fortress  in  which  his  two  redoubtable 
enemies  had  been  confined. 

We  mean  Jack  Harkaway  and  Dick  Harvey. 

When  he  reached  the  castle,  there  was  no  sign  of  the 
boat.  Despair ! 

The  pursuers  were  fast  n earing  him. 

He  could  hear  their  footsteps  close  behind  him. 

Suddenly  he  saw  the  boat,  as  he  thought,  flashing  a 
signal  light  at  him,  and  then  he  made  a  dash  at  the  water, 
cast  aside  his  cloak,  and  leapt  boldly  in. 

He  heard  shots  fired,  and  he  felt  sure  that  he  was  the 
target ;  but  he  was  safe,  so  far. 

Little  did  he  know  what  had  taken  place  in  that  gloomy 
fortress. 

Little  did  he  think  that  he  was  trusting  his  fortunes  to 
the  deep  at  the  self-same  moment  as  his  old  enemy,  Jack 
Harkaway. 

He  heard  the  firing,  and  then  he  chuckled. 

"The  fools,"  he  said  to  himself;  "  they  have  as  much 
idea  of  shooting  as  the  whistling  oyster,  or  a  white  ele- 
phant." 

And  so  he  swam  on. 

Now,  Hunston  was  a  strong  swimmer,  and,  spite  of  his 
loss  of  an  arm,  he  made  great  headway. 

But  the  task  before  him  was  more  than  he  had  counted 


1 44  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

upon,  and  so  it  fell  out  that,  in  a  very  little  while,  he  was 
exhausted. 

He  still  struggled  desperately  on,  however. 

Struggled  as  only  a  drowning  man  will  struggle. 

And  when  he  thought  that  it  was  all  over  with  him,  he 
fell  in  with  Harkaway,  as  previously  described. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

IN  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  ENEMY. 

HUNSTON  remained  unconscious. 

Loss  of  blood  and  long  immersion  in  the  water  had 
thoroughly  exhausted  him,  and  his  senses  fled. 

The  recognition  had  not  been  mutual. 

No.  Young  Jack  had  addressed  himself  to  his  father 
upon  making  the  discovery  of  Hunston's  identity,  and  his 
words  had  not  been  overheard  by  Hunston  himself. 

And  so  it  fell  out  that  the  Harkaways  were  destined  to 
return  good  for  evil,  to  save  the  life  of  the  bitterest  enemy 
they  had  upon  the  earth,  one  who  had  sought  their  de- 
struction again  and  again. 

And  under  what  extraordinary  circumstances  was  this 
to  be  brought  about  ? 

Harkaway  the  elder  sat  in  the  boat  as  one  stupefied  by 
the  adventure. 

He  could  not  realise  it  yet. 

****** 

They  were  soon  aboard  ship. 

"Jack!" 

"Well,  Dick,  old  boy." 

"  Glad  to  see  you  by  my  side  again,  old  man." 

"And  I  too,  Dick,  believe  me,"  returned  Harkaway, 
with  heartfelt  sincerity. 

Then  they  pressed  each  other's  hand  with  warmth. 
Since  they  had  last  grasped  each  other's  hand  in  silent 
emotion,  half  an  hour  had  barely  elapsed. 

Certainly  not  more. 

Yet  into  that  half-hour  had  been  crowded  such  a  series 
of  excitements  that  he  appeared  to  have  gone  through  a 
lifetime  of  wonders. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  145 

But  how  had  Toro  failed  to  keep  his  promise  about  the 
boat? 

His  companions  had  lacked  courage  at  the  moment. 

When  the  rocket  went  up  as  a  signal  for  the  fugitive,  the 
boat  neared  the  shore,  and  the  alarming  sounds  from  the 
prison  had  roused  the  crew  to  a  sense  of  their  own  danger, 
and  the  consequence  was  that  in  spite  of  entreaties, 
prayers,  threats,  they  would  not  persevere  in  their  course, 
and  gently  rowed  back  to  their  ship. 

When  the  insensible  Hunston  was  carried  on  board  by 
Harkaway  and  his  party,  there  was  another  who  recog- 
nised him.  Nero. 

The  monkey  recognised  his  old  enemy  immediately, 
and  would  have  pounced  upon  him. 

But  the  crew  kept  him  off,  much  to  the  monkey's  dis- 
gust and  disappointment. 

Now,  when  Hunston  had  regained  consciousness,  a  sur- 
prise was  in  store  for  him. 

But  very  soon  his  feeling  of  satisfaction  at  his  escape 
predominated  over  all  else. 

He  was  as  tenderly  cared  for  as  if  he  had  been  a  dear 
friend  instead  of  a  bitter  enemy. 

At  first  they  felt  inclined  to  give  Hunston  up  to  the 
Cuban  authorities. 

But  this  notion  was  soon  abandoned. 

"  Better  have  left  him  to  perish  in  the  sea,"  said  Hark- 
away,  "than  trust  him  to  their  mercies." 

"But  justice  will  be  dealt  out  to  him,"  said  Captain 
Disher. 

"  Justice  !"  said  Harkaway.      "Justice    is    unknown 
there. " 

And  so  that  idea  was  abaadoned. 

Harkaway  did  not  seek  for  revenge  upon  his  old 
enemy. 

He  had  saved  him  again. 

Surely  this  was  vengeance  enough  for  anyone. 

Hunston  felt  it  deeply,  and  he  did  not  attempt  to  dis- 
guise his  feelings  upon  the  subject  or  to  mince  matters  in 
any  way. 

"Harkaway,"  he  said,  "we  have  been  enemies  since 
we  were  boys,  and  shall  be  to  our  graves." 

"I  know  it,"  said  Harkaway. 

"Then  why  did  you  save  me  ?  " 
10 


1  46  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"I  saw  a  fellow-creature  perishing,  and  - 
risked  your  life  to  preserve  his." 


"  Not  knowing  it  was  your  life  I  was  saving,"  persisted 
Harkaway,  "so  that  you  may  be  relieved  from  all  sense 
of  gratitude,  if  you  find  that  embarrassing,  Hunston." 

"So  you  would  not  have  saved  me  had  you  known  who 
it  was  struggling  in  the  water  ?  " 

"  Probably  not.     Yet,  no  ;  I  can  scarcely  say  that." 

"  I  know  you  can't,"  quickly  returned  Hunston.  "You 
would  have  done  it  all  the  same.  I  know  your  spirit,  and 
I  hate  you  none  the  less  for  that." 

Harkaway  moved  off,  and  young  Jack  came  to  see  his 
old  enemy,  accompanied  by  Harry  Girdwood  and  Mr. 
Mole. 

"  Hunston,"  said  the  latter,  "I  hope  you  have  repented 
of  your  vicious  course  of  life." 

Hunston's  reply  was  brief  but  characteristic. 

"  No,  you  old  donkey,  I  have  not." 

"  Shocking  !  "  exclaimed  the  tutor. 

"Don't  preach  then,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Hunston;  "I 
can't  stand  it  now." 

"  But  you  disabled  me  for  life,  Hunston,"  said  the  tutor, 
pointing  grievously  to  his  wooden  leg. 

"That  was  accidental,  quite,  "replied  Hunston.  "And 
moreover,  Mr.  Mole,  I  wasn't  engaged  in  that  business." 

"  I  know  you  were,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

"Silence,"  interrupted  Hunston,  with  contempt. 

Harry  Girdwood  would  have  rushed  upon  him  had  they 
not  restrained  him. 

"You  thief  and  murderer,"  cried  young  Girdwood; 
"  you  robbed  me  of  my  brother  ;  you  murdered  him,  and 
I'll  have  vengeance  for  that  foul  deed." 

The  villain  Hunston  positively  quailed  before  the  indig- 
nant glance  of  the  boy. 

"  And  you  would  murder  me  ?  "  he  said. 

"  No,"  retorted  Harry  Girdwood,  "for  that  would  be 
letting  you  off  too  easily." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"That  I  would  have  your  life,  if  I  could  have  my  own 
way,  to  suffer  the  tortures  I  endure.  Do  you  feel  the  loss 
of  your  arm  very  much  ?  " 

"1  do." 

His  look  was  a  mixture  of  sullenness  and  sadness,  and 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  147 

they  saw  what  bitterness  it  had  caused  him.  Harry  Gird- 
wood  noted  it. 

"Well,  Hunston,"  he  said,  fixing  him  with  his  deep 
black  eyes,  "  I  shall  take  your  other  arm. "  Hunston  gave 
a  start. 

He  had  never  met  a  boy  like  young  Girdwood,  and  he 
felt  nervous  about  him. 

There  was  an  earnestness  in  his  manner — an  utter 
absence  of  brag,  that  made  Hunston  fear  for  the  future. 

"Toro  has  already  paid  the  penalty  of  his  crimes,  "said 
young  Jack. 

"Are  you  sure?" 

"Yes." 

"Rather — we  saw  him  lying  dead  with  our  own  eyes," 
said  Mr.  Mole. 

"You  are  mistaken,  then,"  said  Hunston,  with  a  light 
laugh.  "  Toro  is  not  dead  ;  he  never  was,  in  fact,  more 
lively  than  now.  The  wounds  he  received  were  desperate, 
but  not  fatal.  He  has  had  many  a  rough  tussle,  has  Toro, 
and  he  takes  a  good  deal  of  killing. " 

They  stared  again. 

"Can  it  be  true?" 

"Of  course  it  is." 

"  What  proof  have  you  ?  "  inquired  one  of  them. 

"  I  left  him  on  the  island  of  Cuba.  Moreover,  it  was  I 
who  rescued  him  when  you  left  him  for  dead — at  the  peril 
of  my  own  life. " 

They  were  convinced. 

"So  much  the  better,"  said  young  Harry  Girdwood. 
"I  shall  have  the  life  of  my  poor  brother's  murderer 
yet." 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

WALKING     THE     Pi^iNK. 

THREE  or  four  days  later  the  Harkaway  party  fell  in  with 
a  stirring  adventure. 

It  was  early  one  morning  that  Nabley,  the  detective, 
discovered  the  spars  and  loose  rigging  of  a  wreck  floating 
about  to  leeward. 


1 48  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SCATS 

Immediately  he  made  known  his  discovery  to  the  cap- 
tain. 

The  captain  caused  boats  to  be  lowered  and  observa- 
tions taken,  and  the  result  of  it  was  they  made  a  strange 
and  uncomfortable  discovery. 

There  were  certain  signs  about  the  wreck  that  told  them 
that  a  battle  had  taken  place  there,  and  that  the  ill-fated 
vessel  had  been  sunk  in  hard  righting. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

Who  were  the  belligerents  ? 

The  skipper  could  only  hazard  a  guess. 

"I  should  think,"  said  Captain  Disher,  "that  it  is  a 
French  merchantman  which  has  fallen  foul  of  a  pirate." 

This  startled  his  hearers,  as  you  may  suppose. 

"A  pirate?" 

"Yes." 

"  And  what  kind  of  pirates  do  you  suppose  them  to 
be?" 

' '  I  should  say  a  Chinese  or  Malay.  I  feel  sure  that 
there  were  Malays  on  board." 

"Why?" 

"Because  we  found  a  creese — a  regular  Malay  instru- 
ment— stuck  into  one  of  the  loose  bits  of  the  wreck ;  so 
that  not  only  should  I  say  there  were  Malays,  but  I 
should  also  say  that  they  had  some  precious  hard  fight- 
ing before  the  Malay  wretches  made  their  victory  sure." 

They  presently  fished  up  a  barrel  half  full  of  rum  that 
was  floating  not  far  from  the  rest  of  the  wreck,  and  the 
words  branded  on  the  barrel  confirmed  their  belief  that  it 
was  a  French  ship  which  had  been  destroyed. 

They  went  on   their  way,  saddened  by  the  reflections 
which  these  fragments  of  wreck  had  called  up. 
'  Ship  ahead  !  " 

'  A  dozen  glasses  were  immediately  set  upon  the  distant 
vessel. 

'  What  is  she?  "  demanded  the  skipper. 

'A  Dutchman,"  returned  one  of  the  bystanders. 

'  No,  no  ;  an  American,"  said  a  second. 

'A  Yankee,  for  a  wager." 

'A  Yankee — a  Yankee,"  echoed  several. 

The  captain  gave  a  long  and  steady  look  through  his 
glass  himself. 

Then  he  handed  it  to  Jack  Harkaway  the  elder. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  149 

"What  do  you  say,  Mr.  Harkaway  ?  "  he  asked. 

Jack  took  the  glass. 

Then  he  gave  along,  steady  look  before  he  pronounced 
Ins  opinion. 

"  It  is  a  Chinese  junk." 

Captain  Disher  took  back  his  glass  and  looked  long  and 
earnestly  through  it. 

"Well,  captain  ?  " 

The  skipper  nodded  at  Harkaway. 

"  You  are  right." 

"  Is  it  a  Chinaman  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Every  minute  now  made  it  less  and  less  a  matter  of  doubt. 

A  sailor  up  aloft  on  the  look-out  came  down,  the  cords 
gliding  swiftly  through  his  glowing  hands,  bursting  with 
a  piece  of  most  significant  intelligence. 

"  Is  it  a  junk,  Ben  ? "  said  Harkaway. 

"Aye,  aye,  your  honour,"  echoed  Ben  Hawser,  for  he 
was  the  look-out  man  from  up  aloft  ;  "  a  precious  rum 
junk,  too." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Ben  ?  " 

"Why,  a  shark,"  returned  Ben  Hawser,  with  an  oath; 
"  and  if  it  ain't  the  werry  identical  shark  as  sunk  that 
poor  Frenchman,  why,  you  may  call  me  the  greatest  land- 
lubber as  ever  crawled." 

"Do  you  think  there  is  anything  suspicious  in  the 
craft  ?  "  demanded  Harkaway  in  an  undertone. 

"I  do,"  replied  the  skipper. 

"Why?" 

"You  may  trust  Ben  Hawser  as  well  as  most  men. 
He  has  had  rr._  experience  than  I  have,"  added  the 
captain,  *  va  great  frankness  ;  "  more  than  any  hand 
aboard  this  ship." 

"But  may  he  not  be  mistaken  ?  " 

"I  doubt  it." 

And  soon  all  doubt  upon  the  subject  was  set  at  rest. 

They  were  fast  gaining  upon  the  Chinaman,  until  at 
length  they  could,  by  the  aid  of  their  glasses,  make  out 
the  build  of  the  vessel,  and  finally  the  figures  of  the  crew 
moving  about  on  board. 

"Ben  !  "  said  Captain  Disher. 

"Your  honour." 
'Come  here." 


1 50  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

The  skipper  and  the  old  tar  went  aft  to  converse 
alone. 

They  talked  together  for  some  few  moments  in  great 
earnestness. 

Then  they  called  the  rest  of  them  into  their  confi- 
dence. 

"  Will  you  gentlemen  step  here  for  a  moment  ?  "  said 
the  skipper. 

"Mr.   Harkaway !  " 

"Sir?" 

"Mr.   Harvey  !  " 

"Here." 

"Mr.  Nabley  1" 

"Here." 

"Mr.   Pike!" 

"Here." 

"Now  all  we  want  are  Mr.  Magog  Brand  and  Mr. 
Jefferson." 

"  Where's  young  Jack  ?  "  said  Harkaway,  senior. 

"  Here,  dad." 

"  Go  below  and  fetch  Mr.   Jefferson  and  Mr.   Brand." 

"Say  that  Captain  Disher  begs  the  favour  of  a  few 
minutes'  conversation,"  said  the  skipper. 

"Aye  aye,  sir,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  A  smart  lad,  your  son,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  said  Captain 
Disher,  "  and  you  ought  to  be  proud  of  him." 

"  I  am." 

"And  I  too,"  said  Harvey  ;  "  we  all  are  proud  of  him, 
in  fact,  and  reason  we  have  too  for  our  pride." 

Back  came  young  Jack,  followed  by  Mr.  Jefferson  and 
his  little  friend  Magog  Brand,  and  .'..  -  two  negroes, 
Sunday  and  Monday,  and  Isaac  Mole. 

"Now,  gentlemen,"  said  Captain  Disher,  "i  Lic.ve  a 
matter  to  consult  you  on  which  demands  the  greatest 
discretion." 

"You  can  rely  on  us  all,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson. 

"I  know  it." 

"It  is  about  the  Chinaman  out  yonder,  if  I  mistake 
not,"  said  Magog  Brand. 

The  captain  nodded. 

"  That  is  a  Chinese  pirate  !  " 

"A  pirate  ! "  echoed  his  hearers,  in  a  breath. 

"  Yes  ;    moreover,   it  is  a  vessel  which  Ben  Hawsef 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  151 

knows  of  old.  It  is  a  junk  that  cruises  about  these  lati- 
tudes, preying  upon  the  smaller  craft,  and,  as  a  rule, 
fighting  very  shy  of  any  thing  likely  to  give  them  any 
trouble.  Now,  they  would  not  be  likely  to  cause  us  any 
trouble  if  we  chose  to  show  them  a  clean  pair  of  heels." 

"Then,  by  all  means,  do  it,"  said  Mr.    Mole  eagerly. 

"Silence!" 

"Let  the  captain  continue." 

"  Now  I  have  a  scheme  for  playing  a  little  game  of  our 
own  with  John  Chinaman,  if  you  are  all  willing." 

"Explain,  captain,"  said  Mr.   Jefferson. 

"Why,  the  game  I  have  to  propose  would  involve  us 
in  some  danger,  and  I  don't  know  whether  we  should  be 
justified  in  leading  you  into  it." 

"Why  not?" 

"At  least  not  without  your  consent." 

"We  give  it." 

"Understand,"  said  the  captain,  "that  with  your  con- 
sent danger,  and  perhaps  death,  will  be  close  to  every 
man  on  board." 

"Very  good,  gentlemen  ;  I  knew  you  would  be  all  of 
that  mind,  only  as  you  have  wives  and  families,  I  thought 
you  would  like  to  have  the  matter  submitted  to  your  con- 
sideration first,"  said  Captain  Disher. 

"  Put  it  to  the  vote,"  suggested  Magog  Brand. 

"Hands  up,  then  !  "  said  the  skipper,  "hands  up  for 
ayes — who  agrees  to  follow  out  my  scheme  ?  " 

All  hands  went  up  but  Isaac  Mole's. 

Thereupon  the  tutor,  finding  himself  alone,  was  fearful 
of  losing  his  character  for  bravery,  and  up  went  his  hand 
with  a  flourish. 
'All  agreed?" 
[  All !  " 

'  Very  good. " 

'  Now  for  the  details,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson. 
'  And  count  upon  my  help,"  said   Mr.   Mole,  grandly. 
1 Thank  you,    sir,"  replied   the    captain,   who   had  a 
certain  sense  of  the  ridiculous  ;   "no  doubt  it  will  prove 
most  valuable." 

And  then  Captain  Disher  proceeded  to  explain  his  plans 
for  tricking  the  Chinese  pirate  ship. 

They  had  a  few  guns — very  few — but  amongst  them 
was  one  which  was  a  terrible  weapon. 


152  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJVS 

It  was  only  a  small  brass  swivel-gun,  but  it  was 
mounted  upon  a  clever  mechanical  contrivance,  which 
made  it  as  easy  to  point  as  a  pocket  pistol,  and  it  was  as 
true  as  a  die. 

This  they  placed  upon  the  quarter-deck  and  covered  it 
over  with  a  piece  of  tarpaulin,  so  that  it  looked  more  like 
luggage,  with  a  covering  to  protect  it  from  the  weather, 
than  a  gun. 

"  The  next  thing,  captain  ?  "  demanded  Jefferson. 

"Muster  all  the  small  arms  on  board  ;  let  every  thing 
be  loaded  and  placed  in  readiness  for  immediate  use." 

"Next  ?" 

"Next  let  the  cutlasses  be " 

"  Man  overboard  !  "  cried  the  look-out. 

"Where?" 

"From  the  Chinaman,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  They've 
made  a  poor  devil  walk  the  plank,  your  honour." 

Glasses  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  scene,  and  it 
was  found  to  be  true. 

The  pirates  had  got  an  unfortunate  wretch  of  a  prisoner, 
whom  they  had  just  driven  overboard  with  blows  and 
prods  from  their  marlinspikes,  cutlasses,  creeses,  and 
other  weapons. 

The  look-out  had  seen  them  distinctly  force  the  un- 
happy being  over  the  ship's  side,  and  he  was  seen  strug- 
gling in  the  water,  until  he  caught  at  a  floating  spar  and 
held  himself  up  by  its  aid. 

They  sailed  on,  until,  when  near  him,  they  had  him 
picked  up  by  one  of  the  ship's  boats. 

Just  in  time. 

Had  they  been  ten  minutes  later,  he  would  have  gone 
down  for  ever. 

The  rescued  man  was  a  little  fat  fellow,  with  a  round 
bullet  head,  and  a  fat  face  with  a  long  moustache  and  im- 
perial, worn  after  the  fashion  of  the  late  Emperor  Napo- 
leon. 

He  was  so  thoroughly  exhausted  that  he  was  scarcely 
able  to  thank  his  rescuers  for  awhile,  but  when  he  did 
get  his  breath,  his  volubility  was  something  amazing. 

"I  can  nevare  tank  you  so  mosh  dan  I  would,"  said 
he,  bowing  to  his  knees  before  Captain  Disher.  "You 
have  saved  my  life,  capitaine. " 

"All  right,  mounseer,"  replied  Captain  Disher ;  "  «»o  use 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  153 

to  palaver  over  it.  I  should  have  done  as  much  for  any 
scoundrel  afloat." 

' '  Morbleu  I  " 

"  Now  tell  us, "said  Harkaway,  eagerly.  "  Is  yonder 
vessel  a  pirate  ? " 

"Pardt'eu/    Yes." 

"  Small  need  to  ask  it,"  said  the  captain. 

"  And  they  have  fought  a  French  ship?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Yes,  mine,  my  ship." 

"Name  the  ship?" 

"  '  La  Fleur  de  Marie/  du  Havre." 

"You  fought  hard,  I  suppose?" 

"  Comment  done/"  ejaculated  the  little  Gaul,  fiercely. 
"Hard  !  we  fight  like geants." 

"Many  killed?" 

"  Helas,  helas/"  sighed  the  Frenchman  ;  "  all." 

"All?" 

' '  Out,  monsieur,  tous. " 

"Two?"  said  the  skipper,  with  a  puzzled  air;  "and 
that  all  the  crew.  The  '  Floor  de  Mary '  couldn't  have 
been  a  very  important  craft." 

"No,"  remarked  Jack  Harkaway,  laughing  heartily  at 
this  ;  "  tous  is  the  French  for  all — everybody." 

"  Oh  !  "  cried  the  skipper,  quite  nettled  at  his  mistake  ; 
' '  then  if  two  means  everybody,  it's  a  damned  stupid 
lingo,  that's  all  I've  got  to  say  on  the  matter." 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

THE    BATTLE   WITH   THE   PIRATE. 

"  HOLD  hard,  mounseer  !  Did  they  see  us  aboard  the 
junk  before  you  had  to  walk  into  the  water?  " 

"No." 

"Sure?" 

"Certain,  monsieur." 

"Then  it  is  possible  that  they  have  not  seen  us  even 
yet,"  cried  Harkaway. 

"Scarcely,"  said  Captain  Disher  ;  "  they  would  watch 
him  in  the  water,  and  then  they  would  be  sure  to  see  us, 
even  if  their  look-out  had  been  so  badly  kept  before." 


T  5  4  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY  A  ND  HIS  SOJV'S 

•  Peut-ttre  perhaps,"  said  the  little  Frenchman  ;  "I 
am  not  sure.  They  were  all  so  dronks  than  a  pig.  I  mix 
de  grog  myself." 

"I  don't  quite  understand  how  you  mean,"  said  Jack 
Harkaway.  "  How  came  you  to  mix  the  grog  for 
them  ? " 

"I  will  tell  you,"  replied  the  little  man  ;  "when  dey 
fall  upon  us,  and  I  see  dat  we  shall  all  be  lost — all  be 
prisonniers  or  killed,  so  I  got  de  laudanum  from  de 
medicine  box,  and  pour  into  de  rum  and  de  wine." 

"  Oho  !  "  cried  Harkaway  ;   "I  see  now." 

"So  I  serve  dem  all  grog,  and  presently  half  began  to 
snore  ;  but  dere  was  tree  of  de  crew — des  abruiis — beasts 
Malays,  who  will  not  to  drink,  and  dey  suspect  someting 
— les  miserables  I  Dey  make  me  walk  de  plank  into  de 
sea,  where  dey  pretend  to  see  sharks." 

"  So  then,  Mossoo  Potirong,"  said  Captain  Disher, 
"the  best  part  of  this  crew  are  tight?  " 

"Tight?" 

"Yes." 

"Vat  is  tight?" 

"  Half  seas  ovare." 

The  little  Frenchman  was  puzzled  at  this. 

"  Half  seas  ovare?  I  do  not  know  him  more  dan  de 
oder." 

"Groggy — soapy,"  explained  one  of  the  bystanders  ; 
and  then  he  showed  it  by  pantomimic  gestures. 

He  made  signs  of  drinking,  and  then  rolled  about  with 
an  exaggerated  unsteadiness  of  gait  which  there  was  no 
misunderstanding. 

"  I  see, I  see,"  said  Hypolite  Potiron  ;  "gn's — en  ribote." 

"Call  it  whatever  you  like,  monsieur;  we  means 
tight,"  persisted  Ben  Hawser,  "and  that's  clear  enough 
for  any  honest  man  to  say — tight's  the  word." 

"Veil,  then,  tight — yes,  monsieurs  ;  so  dronk  dan 
Polonais. " 

Ben  Hawser  stared  again  at  this  queer  simile. 

"  As  drunk  as  polonies  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Well,  of  all 
the  rum  lingoes,  this  blessed  parleyvoo  licks  them  all." 

Harkaway  got  impatient  of  these  misunderstandings 
and  playing  on  mistakes  in  language,  and  so,  as  briefly 
as  possible,  he  put  the  matter  before  M.  Hypolite  Potiron. 

"  What  we  want  to  do  is  this,"  said  Harkaway  ;   "we 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  155 

think    that,    without    exposing    ourselves    to   any   very 
desperate  risk,  we  can  take  a  rise  out  of  John  Chinaman." 

Monsieur  Potiron  nodded  approvingly. 

"Vat  sail  you  do?" 

"You  shall  see." 

They  set  to  work  in  the  first  place  to  rig  up  a  tarpaulin 
canopy  on  deck,  which  was  to  shelter  their  operations 
from  view. 

Under  this  canopy  they  set  to  work  actively  to  collect 
their  small  arms,  which  were  loaded  by  two  of  the  sailors. 

They  next  got  the  largest  gun  they  possessed  up  under 
their  canopy  and  wheeled  it  round  into  position. 

This  done,  the  captain  asked  for  good  marksmen  to 
volunteer  to  go  up  into  the  rigging. 

"Consider  me  for  one,  captain,"  said  Magog  Brand ; 
"  my  Remington  will  pick  a  few  of  the  pirates  off." 

"I'll  make  one,"  added  Jefferson,  "and  the  rascals 
shall  find  I  am  no  baby  with  powder  and  shot." 

"  I'll  join  you,"  said  Nabley,  who  was  a  crack  shot. 

"I'm  with  you  also,"  cried  Pike,  and  he  followed  his 
comrade  into  the  shrouds. 

"Gently  does  it,  gentlemen  all,"  said  Captain  Disher. 

"Gently  it  is." 

"  Understand,  if  they  should  happen  to  be  on  the  look- 
out, in  spite  of  Mounseer  Puttyrong's  dosing,  they  must 
not  suspect  any  thing. " 

' '  That's  true,  captain, "  said  Jefferson. 

And  so  the  shrouds  were  manned  by  volunteer  sharp- 
shooters. 

Every  man  carried  a  death-dealing  weapon  and  twenty 
rounds. 

Every  round  meant  death  for  someone,  for  those  brave 
men  scarcely  knew  what  missing  the  mark  meant. 

"I've  read,   Captain  Disher,"  said  young  Jack  Hark- 
away,  ' '  of  burning  a  vessel." 
'How?" 

'Red-hotshot,  captain." 
'Well,  Master  Harkaway,  and  what  then?" 
'  Why  not  try  it  on  now  ? " 
'There  is  something  in  what  you  say,  my  lad." 
'Then  you'll  do  it?" 

'What   do  you   say,  Mr.    Harkaway,    to  your  son's 
suggestion  ?  "  asked  the  captain. 


156  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Might  do  worse,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  True  ;  but  I  must  fire  low." 

"Just  above  the  watermark,  I  suppose ?"  said  Hark- 
away. 

"That's  it." 

"Good." 

The  preparations  went  bravely  on. 

Ten  bold  and  skilful  marksmen  were  up  in  the  rigging-. 

These  were  Magog  Brand,  Jefferson,  Nabley,  Pike, 
Dick  Harvey,  Monday,  Harry  Girdwood,  a  passenger 
named  Professor  Shloppen,  who  was  near-sighted,  and 
shot  in  spectacles  with  a  muzzle-loader,  and  two  of  the 
sailors. 

The  two  guns  beneath  the  tarpaulin  canopy  were 
manned  by  the  most  efficient  gunners  on  board. 

The  crew  were  then  all  summoned  to  the  captain's 
side,  and  he  gave  them  a  brief  but  stirring  address. 

"Listen  to  me,  my  lads,"  Captain  Disher  said  ;  "I've 
got  some  good  news  for  you.  Now  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that,  as  true-born  men,  you  will  be  mightily 
pleased  to  hear " 

"Aye,  aye,  captain." 

"  Well,  my  men,  the  Chinaman  you  see  ahead  of  us  is 
a  pirate. " 

The  men  gave  a  groan. 

"Those  sharks  have  just  run  down  and  scuttled  a 
French  ship,  and  murdered  the  crew  and  passengers  in 
cold  blood." 

Another  groan. 

"Well,  I  ask  you,  as  Englishmen  and  Americans,  can 
you  stand  by  and  witness  these  things  ?  " 

"No!" 

"No,  no  ! " 

"No,  of  course  we  can't, "said  the  captain.  "Then 
what  shall  we  do  ? " 

' '  Down  with  the  pirates ! "  cried  the  crew,  with  one  voice. 

"That's  it,"  said  the  skipper  ;  "I  knew  you  would  say 
that.  Down  with  the  pirates  !  Now  we  must  make  them 
feel  our  power." 

"Aye.  aye,  captain,  let  them  feel  our  power,"  cried 
the  sailors,  some  of  them  commencing  to  tuck  up  their 
sleeves. 

"Now,  I'll  tell  you,"  continued  Captain  Disher,  "that 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  157 

poor  devil  of  a  mounseer  we  rescued  has  greatly  helped 
us,  to  begin  with.  He  has  made  a  lot  of  them  square 
by  hocussing  their  grog." 

"  Hurrah  for  the  mounseer  !  "  shouted  one  of  the  crew. 

' '  According  to  his  report,  there  are  only  a  few  of  the 
men  fit  to  take  care  of  themselves  ;  but  three  to  one  we 
don't  mind,  but  we  must  creep  up  close  on  to  'em.  Then 
before  they  can  say  Jack  Robinson,  pop  a  couple  of  red- 
hot  shot  into  'em." 

"But  suppose,  your  honour,"  said  one  of  the  sailors, 
"  that  they  turn  up  right  and  show  fight?  " 

"Well,  what  then?" 

"  It  might  look  awkward  like  if  we  couldn't  get  out  of 
range  of  their  guns. " 

' '  Out  of  range  be  blowed  !  "  interrupted  Ben  Hawser. 
4 '  Why,  we  have  got  a  lot  of  gentlemen  in  the  rigging  as 
can  shoot  against  any  team  in  creation." 

"Yes,  but " 

"But — but — but!"  cried  Ben  Hawser,  impatiently, 
"  the  skunks  won't  stand  a  chance  against  us ;  they'll  be 
picked  off  as  fast  as  they  appear. " 

"But  they  may  be  twenty  to  one." 

' '  I  confess, "  said  the  captain,  ' '  we  have  got  a  tough 
job  before  us,  but  if  we  are  all  of  one  mind,  and  plenty  of 
pluck,  we  shall  avenge  those  poor  French  men  and  women 
who  have  been  brutally  murdered. " 

"  Huzza  ! "  cried  one  of  the  more  enthusiastic  of  the 
men. 

And  then  they  all  took  up  the  cry,  with  the  exception 
of  one  man. 

He  did  not  seem  to  relish  the  job,  and  grumblingly  he 
dissented. 

"  But  supposing  that  we  should  be  beaten  ?  " 

"And " 

"  And  get  into  a  mess  ?  " 

"Why,  then,"  coolly  returned  Captain  Disher,  "we 
should  in  all  probability  be  made  short  work  of " 

"Ugh!" 

' '  You  don't  care  for  that  ?  " 

"Well,  I  don't.  I  signed  articles  to  help  work  ship,  not 
to  fight  pirates." 

"So  you  did,  Mason,"  returned  the  captain,  quickly. 
*so  you  did." 


1 5  8  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  /  V£>  HIS  SON 'S 

"And  I  don't  care  to " 

"Quite  right,"  interrupted  Captain  Disher,  thoroughly 
incensed  at  this.  "Go  down  below  until  the  skirmish  is 
over.  Down  with  you." 

The  man  paused,  and  then,  irritated  by  the  crew,  he 
-turned  round  and  faced  the  skipper  with  a  bold  front. 

"  Go  down  below,  Mason,"  said  the  captain,  sharply, 
"  and  save  your  precious  skin.  No  remarks.  We  don't 
want  any  half-hearted  men.  They  do  more  harm  than 
good  at  such  a  time  as  this." 

Mason  retreated  and  went  below. 

The  rest  of  the  crew  were  not  merely  willing  to  fight 
the  pirate,  they  were  delighted  with  the  chance. 

The  preparations  for  the  encounter  being  so  far  com-' 
pleted  in  one  direction,  they  turned  their  attention  to  the 
decoy  part  of  the  performance. 

It  was  done  in  this  way. 

A  quadrille  party  was  got  up  aft  by  the  sailors,  a  clumsy 
.affair,  for  they  were  better  at  hornpipes  then  at  the 
"  ladies'  chain,"  but  it  was  good  enough  for  the  purpose. 

All  that  was  wanted,  of  course,  was  a  show  of  amuse- 
ments, in  order  to  make  the  pirates  all  the  more  sure  of 
an  easy  and  bloodless  victory,  when  they  chose  to  strike. 

Altogether  it  was  a  very  singular  sight. 

Eight  burly  Jack  tars  performing  a  quadrille  while 
another  was  riddling  away. 

Young  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  were  dressed  up  in 
female  apparel,  and  to  look  at  the  peaceful  gaiety  of  the 
scene,  few  persons  would  have  dreamt  that  warlike  pre- 
parations were  so  far  advanced  that  they  were  eagerly 
awaiting  the  moment  to  strike. 

Nearer  and  nearer  the  two  ships  drew  to  each  other. 

And  now  they  were  so  near  that  up  aloft  they  could  see 
distinctly  all  that  was  going  forward  on  board. 

This  corroborated  all  that  the  little  Frenchman  had  said. 

There  were  three  or  four  dark-skinned  fellows,  naked  to 
their  waists,  and  armed  with  a  formidable  array  of  knives 
and  pistols  stuck  in  their  belts. 

These  were  the  Malays. 

It  was  pretty  evident  that  they  were  the  only  members 
of  the  crew  that  were  not  under  the  influence  of  liquor. 

' '  Do  they  all  seem  asleep  or  dead  on  board  ?  "  asked  the 
•captain. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  159 

Jefferson  gave  a  look  through  the  glass  again  before 
replying. 

" The  Malays  are  busy  enough,  captain,"  he  replied, 
"but  the  Chinamen  appear  to  me  to  be  asleep.  They're 
calling  them  up  from  below." 

"I  can  see  them  tumbling  up." 

"  So  can  I,"  said  Magog  Brand  ;  "they're  swarming  up 
the  hatchways  now  like  bees." 

"Up  they  come." 

It  was  true. 

The  thought  of  plunder  near  had  served  more  than  any- 
thing else  to  shake  off  the  drowsiness  of  the  pirates. 

In  the  space  of  about  ten  minutes  the  deck  was  literally 
alive  with  the  repulsive  looking  wretches  who  traded  in 
slaughter. 

"They  appear  to  be  working  into  something,"  said 
Pike  ;  "I  can  see  one  man,  who  appears  to  be  an  officer, 
giving  commands." 

"  Un  grand  ?  "  called  up  Monsieur  Potiron  ;  "  a  tall,  big 
von  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Dat  is  de  capitaine." 

"  Is  he  ?  By  gum  !  "  ejaculated  Pike.  "Then  he  shall 
have  half  an  ounce  of  solid  lead  if  1  can  shoot  a  little 
bit." 

"I  say,  mounseer, "  said  Captain  Disher,  "can  you 
shoot  ? " 

"  Un  peu — a  leetle,"  answered  the  Frenchman.  "See 
here. " 

He  drew  back  his  coat  and  showed  a  silver  medal  on 
his  breast. 

"  Premier  prix — first  prize  for  shooting  at  the  tir"  he 
said,  proudly. 

"You  clamber  up  into  the  rigging,  then,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, quickly.  "You  know  their  officers,  and  you  can 
pick  them  off." 

The  Frenchman  was  soon  provided  with  a  capital  rifle 
— Harkaway's  property — and  up  he  went  like  a  cat. 

Once  there,  he  could  not  control  his  impatience  as  the 
others  had  done,  but  taking  a  long,  steady  aim  at  the 
pirate  captain,  he  blazed  away. 

The  tall  pirate  captain  dropped  with  a  bullet  in  his 
brain. 


1 60  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOATS 

"  Who's  that  ? "  called  out  Captain  Disher,  furiously. 

"Me,"  returned  Monsieur  Potiron,  proudly.  "I  have 
kill  de  capitaine." 

"And  us  too,  very  likely  ;  hang  your  blundering.  Now 
then,  Ben  Hawser." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"  Stand  to  your  guns." 

"Aye,  aye,  your  honour." 

"Every  shot  must  tell!  Aim  low — just  above  the 
water  line." 

"Ready  now — blaze  away  !  " 

This  was  the  best  course  to  pursue  after  all,  as  the  pre- 
cipitate Potiron  had  put  them  upon  the  alert. 

In  less  than  a  minute  more,  their  dwarf  battery  was  un- 
masked, and  Ben  Hawser  sped  his  first  iron  messenger, 
crashing  into  the  junk's  side. 

They  watched  eagerly  for  the  result. 

It  struck  her  just  above  the  water  line,  and  they  could 
see  that  it  was  a  goodly  hole. 

The  Chinese  now  yelled  themselves  hoarse  in  striving 
to  work  themselves  into  something  like  a  fit  state  for  right- 
ing their  ship. 

One  of  the  Malays  took  up  the  command  promptly,  and 
mounting  upon  a  chest,  he  issued  commands  right  and 
left,  through  a  speaking  trumpet. 

He  appeared  to  be  getting  matters  ship-shape  ;  so 
Hypolite  Potiron  looked  after  him. 

He  took  his  aim  steadily,  and  fired. 

And  the  Malay,  throwing  up  his  arms,  dropped  down 
from  his  chest  dead. 

"  Two  !  "  cried  the  little  Frenchman  ;  "I  must  have  a 
score,  before  I  shall  be  happy." 

Meanwhile  the  Chinese  had  run  out  their  guns  and  un- 
masked their  portholes. 

Every  gun  was  fully  manned. 

"  Now  !  "  cried  Jefferson  to  his  companions  generally, 
' '  listen  to  me.  We  must  not  waste  a  shot — let  us  pick  out 
our  men — do  you  hear  ?  " 

"We  do."   ' 

"  Listen.  Waste  not  a  word — not  a  moment,  any  more 
than  a  shot.  This  is  of  the  highest  importance.  I  take 
the  furthest  gunner.  You,  Magog,  take  the  next." 

"Good." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  j6l 

'You,  Pike,  the  next." 
'Good." 

'  You  the  next,  Nabley." 
'I  will." 
'  Monday." 
'Sar?" 

'Pick  out  the  men  bringing  the  ammunition." 
'Yes,  sar." 

'Now,  then,  steady — aim  slowly,  fire,  and  reload." 
'  Good  !  "  said  the  marksmen  in  the  shrouds,  with  one 
voice. 

Then  came  a  rattling  volley  ! 

Six  of  the  pirates  dropped  upon  the  deck,  four  writhing 
in  the  throes  of  death,  two  quite  dead. 
Six  men  stepped  into  their  places  at  once. 
But  before  they  could  make  another  step  in  the  loading 
of  the  guns,  they  were  picked  off. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  a  red-hot  shot  had  been 
dropped  in  the  midst  of  the  pirate  crew  by  Ben  Hawser. 

And  there  occurred  a  momentary  panic  amongst  the 
Chinese,  which  looked  as  though  it  was  all  over  with 
them. 

But  fast  as  some  were  killed,  there  were  others  to 
supply  their  places,  so  numerous  were  these  pests  of  the 
seas. 

Meanwhile  Sunday  had  clambered  into  the  topmost 
part  of  the  rigging,  glass  in  hand,  and  with  a  rifle  strapped 
across  his  back. 

He  saw  that  the  pirates  were  now  making  the  most 
desperate  efforts  to  work  the  ship,  while  the  majority  of 
the  crew  were  fighting. 

Consequently  he  rendered  signal  service  by  picking  off 
the  man  who  was  at  the  helm. 

Five   minutes   had   not  elapsed  since  the  hot-headed 
little  Potiron  had  fired  his  first  unlucky  shot,  and  already 
the  pirates  had  lost  over  forty  men. 
It  was  hot  work. 

"Look  out!  They're  sending  sharpshooters  up  into 
the  rigging  !  " 

Three  of  the  rifles  were  turned  from  the  gunners. 
" Hold  hard  !"  cried  Jefferson,  coolly,  "don't  be  rash. 
Keep  to  the  gunners,  or  it  will  soon  be  all  over  with  us. 
Let  them  get  up  well  before  we  fire." 
II 


1 62  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

This  was  valuable  advice  to  give. 

Had  they  left  the  gunners  free  to  continue  the  strife,  it 
would  have  gone  hard  with  the  American  ship. 

Sunday  let  one  fellow  get  on  to  the  crosstrees  and  settle 
himself  comfortably. 

Then  he  loaded  rapidly. 

"  Now,  you  ugly  nigger,"  said  he,  "you  shall  have  it, 
by  golly  !  " 

And  he  dropped  a  bullet  into  the  fellow's  body. 

It  was  not  a  desperate  wound,  but  the  shock  made  him 
lose  his  balance. 

He  staggered. 

Tried  to  catch  at  the  crosstree  and  save  himself. 

In  vain. 

He  jerked  round  and  toppled  over,  sending  the  man 
beneath  him  headlong  on  to  the  deck. 

And  so  they  scattered  confusion  for  a  moment  amongst 
their  friends,  and  put  themselves  out  of  the  fight  for 
good. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  END  OF  THE  FIGHT A  DISASTER. 

"  A  GOOD  shot,  Sunday,"  said  Jefferson  ;  and  as  he  spoke, 
he  picked  off  another  of  the  men  who  were  vainly  en- 
deavouring to  work  the  guns. 

Any  man  amongst  the  Chinese  who  showed  himself  at 
all  prominently  was  dropped  in  a  twinkling,  sometimes 
with  two  or  more  bullets  in  his  wretched  carcase. 

Meanwhile,  three  red-hot  shots  had  been  sent  on  board 
the  junk,  which  was  burning  in  two  places. 

"Steady,  lads  !  "  cried  Captain  Disher. 

Sunday  had  been  gliding  down  the  rigging  hand-over- 
hand, as  fast  as  he  could  come. 

But,  alack  for  the  faithful  and  brave  black  !  just  as  he 
was  nearing  the  deck,  a  ball  from  the  junk  struck  him  in 
the  calf  of  his  right  leg. 

Down  he  fell,  howling. 

"  I  see  the  skunk,"  said  Jefferson,  firing  a  shot  as  coolly 
as  though  he  was  practising  at  the  butts. 

He  had  seen  him,  and  what  is  more,  he  picked  him  off, 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  163 

thus  avenging  Sunday  before  his  wound  was  one  minute 
old. 

Sunday  scrambled  up  and  crawled  to  Captain  Disher's 
side,  while  the  latter  was  in  earnest  consultation  with 
Jack  Harkaway  the  elder  about  the  progress  of  the  fight. 

"Do  you  think  it  is  safe  ?"  the  captain  was  saying  as 
Sunday  approached. 

"Safe  as  can  be,''  was  Harkaway's reply. 

"We  have  had  it  all  our  own  way  up  to  the  present,  for 
they  were  taken  by  surprise,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  but  once 
let  them  get  one  of  their  big  guns  into  position,  and  it 
would  be  all  over  with  us. " 

"That's  it, "  returned  Harkaway  ;  "  but  we  don't  mean 
to  let  them.  We  all  know  there's  danger,  but  no  more 
than  what  we  run  at  present,  and  short  of  dropping  a  red- 
hot  shot  into  their  powder  magazine,  I  don't  see  how " 

"  Dat's  me,"  said  Sunday,  hobbling  up,  with  a  groan. 

"Hullo,  Sunday!     Scratched  ?"  said  Harkaway. 

"Yes,  sar ;  dem  dam  tiefs  shoot  dis  poor  beggar  in  de 
carf." 

"Go  below  and  get  it  seen  to,  then,  at  once." 

"Presently,  sar,"  said  Sunday,  "jes  now  I'se  busy." 

"What?" 

"I want  to  speak  to  you  pertickler,  gemmen.  I'se 
come  to  tell  you,  Massa  Harkaway,  where  dey  get  de 
powder  from." 

His  hearers  started. 

"The  magazine?  " 

"Where  is  it  situated  ?  "  added  the  captain. 

"Yes,  sar." 

"Tell  us  where,  my  good  fellow,"  said  the  captain, 
eagerly ;  ' '  and  then  get  down  below  to  look  after  your 
hurt,  for  brave  men  are  scarce." 

"Help  me  up,  sar,  onto  de  chest,  and  I'll  p'int  it 
out. " 

They  obeyed. 

"Now  then,  Sunday,  quick,"  said  Harkaway,  very 
anxiously. 

"  You  see  dat  gong  swing  jes  a  little  way  aft  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"Well?" 

"Well,  gemmen,  dey  fetches  der  powder  from  jes  be- 
hind dat." 


i.  64  JA  CK  HARKA  IV A  Y  AND  HIS  SONS 

'-'  Do  they  ?  " 

Harkaway  spotted  the  place  through  his  glass. 
' '  Well  ?  "   said  Captain  Disher. 
Harkaway  nodded  his  head. 
"Sunday's  right." 

"  Then  hang  me,"  cried  the  captain,  "if  they'll  bring 
much  more  powder  from  there. " 

He  jumped  from  the  chest,  and  in  a  few  strides  was 
beside  Ben  Hawser. 

Now  Ben  was  stripped  to  the  waist,  and  was  working 
his  gun  with  marvellous  ease  and  rapidity. 
He  was  thoroughly  enjoying  himself. 
'Ben,"  said  the  captain. 
'  Your  honour. " 
'  We  have  good  news." 

'  The  warmints  have  struck  ?  "  said  Ben,  excitedly. 
'No." 

'  What  then  ?  " 

'  We  have  spotted  their  powder  magazine." 
iSen  gave  a  regular  jump  when  he  heard  this. 
'  Is  it  a  fact,  captain  ? " 
'It  is." 

'Then  you  just  let  me  know  its  precise  latitude  and 
longitude,  and  damme,  though  I  say  it  as  shouldn't, 
Captain  Disher,  they  shan't  take  much  more  powder  from 
there. " 

'  Sight  for  the  swinging  gong  that  hangs  aft." 
'  Aye,  aye,  your  honour." 
'The  magazine  is  just  beyond." 
'  Sure  ?  " 
'Quite." 

'Enough  said,  your  honour." 
Ben  Hawser  chuckled  mightily,  as  he  sighted  his  gun 
for  the  gong. 

He  did  not  let  his  mirth  spoil  his  careful  aim,  for  he 
felt  certain  now  of  putting  an  end  to  the  battle  at  a 
single  stroke. 

"Now  for  the  shot." 

The  ball,  heated  to  whiteness,  was  swung  into  the  can- 
non, and  Ben  took  his  long  fusee. 
"Ready!" 

' '  Look  out  !     Danger  ahoy  !  "  shouted  those  aloft. 
"They're  lowering  boats." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  165 

Bang  went  the  gun,  and  there  was  a  terrific  crash  on 
board  the  pirate. 

The  alarming  cry  from  those  aloft  had  startled  Ben 
Hawser  at  the  critical  moment,  and  he  had  applied 
the  fusee  just  a  second  or  so  too  late. 

Though  the  water  was  comparatively  still,  care  had  to  be 
taken  to  allow  to  a  nicety  for  the  rise  and  fall  of  the 
vessel. 

The  consequence  was  that  instead  of  landing  the 
magazine,  as  he  had  fondly  hoped  and  expected,  he  shot 
the  gong. 

It  was  far  from  being  a  bad  shot  as  it  happened,  but 
yet  not  near  enough. 

"I've  played  the  last  tune  on  their  Chinee  riddle,"  said 
Ben  Hawser,  grimly,  "  but  I  must  land  their  magazine." 

But  this  was  easier  said  than  done. 

The  alarm  given  from  aloft  proved  to  be  too  well 
founded. 

While  apparently  lost  in  confusion,  the  pirates  were 
quietly  planning  a  bold  retaliation. 

The  water  was  suddenly  seen  to  be  literally  alive  with 
boats,  and  the  peril  was  serious  for  our  friends. 

Captain  Disher  and  Harkaway  held  a  hurried  con- 
sultation on  the  matter. 

"What   is   your   advice   now,    Mr.     Harkaway  ?"  de- 
manded the  skipper. 
'This  is  a  puzzler." 

'Something  must  be  done,  and  sharply,  too." 
'  It  must." 

'We  shaP  have  to  sheer  off." 
•Never." 

'We  must,  for  the  p'/ates  are  yet  twenty  to  one  of  us." 
'Drop  a  shot  or  two  into  the  boats.     Let  Ben  Hawser 
try  his  skill  on  them. " 

' '  Yes,  and  what  of  the  pirates  in  the  junk  ?  " 

The  sharpshooters  in  the  rigging  are  taking  care  of 
them." 

' '  No  ;  it  will  not  do.  If  we  once  let  their  boats  swarm 
around  us,  we  are  lost.  Once  let  them  be  free  to  work 
their  guns,  and  good-bye  to  us.  The  smartness  of  our 
fire,  and  our  great  activity,  have  alone  kept  us  safely 
through  the  job  so  far." 

He  gave  orders  for  working  the  ship. 


1 66  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

The  change  in  her  tactics  was  at  once  perceived,  for 
the  pirates  in  the  boats  set  up  the  most  discordant  cries 
and  cheers. 

Presently  Harkaway  came  with  a  rush  to  offer  Captain 
Disher  a  suggestion. 

"What  now,  Mr.  Harkaway?"  asked  the  captain. 

"Why  not  lower  some  boats  to  meet  them  ?  " 

The  captain  reflected  for  a  moment. 

"It  would  gain  time,  if  it  did  no  further  good." 

"  I  think  you  are  right,  Mr.  Harkaway.  I'll  have  boats 
lowered.  May  I  leave  you  in  charge,  while  I  go  aft  and 
get  volunteers  to  man  the  boats  ?  " 

"Good." 

The  captain  called  for  volunteers  for  the  boats,  and  a 
dozen  came  forward  at  once  to  offer  their  services. 

Amongst  these  volunteers  were  two  lads. 

These  two  lads  were  young  Girdwood  and  Jack  Hark- 
away,  Junior. 

Young  Jack  was  full  of  eagerness  to  be  off  before  his 
father  or  Dick  Harvey  should  see  them,  for  he  guessed 
that  they  would  soon  put  a  stop  to  his  fighting,  if  they 
should  discover  it. 

The  rowers  pulled  desperately  for  the  nearest  of  the 
pirate's  boats. 

Two  of  the  latter  had  been  lowered  and  manned  a  few 
minutes  before  the  others,  and  now  they  were  considerably 
in  advance  of  the  rest  of  them. 

To  engage  those  two  boats  was  the  intention  ofthedes 
perate — not  to  say  foolhardy — young  heroes. 

The  pirates,  who  were  not  notorious  for  their  bravery, 
be  it  remarked,  pulled  to  meet  them,  simply  because 
they  were  ignorant  of  how  far  in  advance  they  were  of 
their  own  companions. 

Otherwise,  they  would  not  have  ventured  two  boats 
against  one  of  their  enemy. 

No. 

Six  to  one  was  their  notion  of  proper  fighting  odds. 

"  Pull  into  this  near  boat,"  cried  young  Jack,  excitedly. 
"  Let's  bear  them  down." 

"Aye,  aye  !  "  cried  the  rowers,  as  if  with  one  voice. 

The  Chinese  were  yelling  and  shouting,  and  brandish- 
ing long  knives,  as  though  they  would  have  made  sausage 
meat  of  them  all 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  167 

But  no  sooner  did  they  see  the  boat  nearing  them,  than 
they  pulled  away  with  desperation. 

"The  measly  skunks  !  "  ejaculated  one  of  the  sailors. 
"  Give  'em  a  volley." 

"No,  no,"  cried  Harry  Girdwood  ;  "not  just  yet." 

He  was  not  less  brave  than  his  young  comrade,  but  he 
was  not  quite  so  impetuous. 

The  battle  is  not  always  to  the  brave. 

But  his  commands  were  not  strictly  obeyed. 

One  of  the  pirates,  a  tall  Chinese,  in  a  brown  jacket,  or 
rather  smock,  made  himself  conspicuous,  by  standing  up, 
and  giving  orders  with  a  good  deal  of  noise,  and  young 
Jack  could  not  resist  the  pleasure  of  having  a  pop  at  him 
with  his  revolver. 

The  fellow  dropped  with  a  howl  of  pain. 

The  fall  of  their  leader  spread  dismay  and  confusion 
amongst  the  crew  of  the  boat,  and  they  would  have  got 
out  of  range  sharply  if  they  had  been  able. 

If. 

But  they  were  not. 

This  proved  to  be  the  signal  for  a  general  fight,  during 
which  the  second  boat  pulled  nearer  and  nearer,  assailing 
them  with  vigour. 

"  Larboard  and  starboard,  we  shall  get  it  now  !"  ex- 
claimed one  of  the  boat's  crew. 

"Run  into  this  one.  Chop  them  down  in  a  crack,  and 
then  we  shall  be  free  to  bowl  over  the  rest." 

It  was  not  quite  so  easy  done  as  said. 

They  pulled  with  desperate  vigour  to  the  boat  in  ques- 
tion, but  before  they  had  made  a  dozen  boats'  lengths, 
their  progress  was  checked. 

A  volley  from  the  pirates  disabled  one  of  their 
rowers. 

The  sailors  blazed  away  at  the  pirates,  but  the  second 
boat  approached,  and  now  the  fight  became  precious 
hot. 

Three  of  the  sailors  besides  young  Girdwood  were 
wounded  and  it  began  to  look  desperate. 

"Close  with  them,  or  we  shall  all  be  picked  off  before 
we  can  get  a  slap  at  them. " 

A  volley  from  the  farther  boat  now  rattled  about  them. 

Three  of  their  rifles  were  immediately  turned  upon  it, 
and  three  of  the  pirates  in  that  boat  dropped. 


1 68  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  V  AMD  JJIS 

Amidst  cries  of  anguish,  and  yells  of  defiance,  they 
pulled  on  until  the  two  boats  dashed  against  each 
other. 

Simultaneously,  the  crews  fell  upon  each  other  with 
desperation. 

Knives,  pistols,  creeses,  hatchets,  cutlasses,  were  used 
with  such  vigour  that  in  a  few  seconds  the  blood  was  run- 
ning like  water,  and  there  was  not  a  man  or  boy  present 
that  was  not  wounded. 

Then  it  was  that  the  superiority  of  the  British  and 
Americans  showed  itself  over  the  Celestials. 

The  vigour  of  the  onslaught  was  such  that  the  Chinese 
were  knocked  all  of  a  heap  in  the  middle  of  their  boat. 

It  would  have  been  an  easy  victory  comparatively,  had 
not  the  second  boat  pulled  into  them. 

Then  young  Jack,  who  was  leaning  on  his  cutlass,  try- 
ing vainly  to  staunch  an  ugly  cut  in  his  side,  saw  their 
peril. 

"Look  out,  my  lads,"  he  shouted  ;  "lower  your  cars, 
and  pull  off,  or  we  shall  be  caught  between  two  fires." 

Several  of  the  men  scrambled  back  to  their  seats,  while 
the   rest   pushed    off  by   the    Chinese   boat,    leaving    a 
ghastly  proof  of  their  prowess  behind  them. 
'There's  a  boat  coming  to  support  us." 
'  Where  ?  " 

'There,  from  the  ship." 
1  Hurrah  ? " 
'We'll  give  'em  pepper  yet,"  cried  one  of  the  men. 

The  two  pirates  followed  them  up,  while  the  other  boat 
slowly  drew  near. 

"That's  a  rum  sort  of  reinforcement  to  send,"  cried  the 
coxswain,  looking  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Why  rum  ?  "  asked  the  next  man. 

"Why,  there's  only  two  men  in  the  boat." 

This  was  true. 

One  of  these  men  was  the  cowardly  member  of  the 
crew,  who  had  been  ordered  below  by  Captain  Disher  at 
the  commencement  of  the  action. 

The  other  was  Jack  Harkaway's  evil  genius,  the  ruffian 
Hunston. 

How  came  they  together  ? 

They  were  kindred  spirits,  and  a  word  will  presently 
explain  the  seeming  mystery. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  169 

Desperate  indeed  was  the  position  of  young  Jack's 
party. 

Already  overmatched  by  the  foe,  who  mustered  more 
than  thrice  their  strength,  they  were  falling  back,  not 
upon  friends,  but  upon  their  worst  enemies. 

The  boats  drew  closer  again. 

And  now,  when  they  were  within  pistol-shot,  Hunston 
stood  up  in  the  boat,  and  fired  point  blank  at  Harry  Gird- 
wood.  The  shot  missed. 

But  the  object  was  attained,  and  this  was  to  show  the 
pirates  that  they  were  friends,  and  fighting  upon  their — 
the  pirates' — side. 

In  the  space  of  two  minutes  the  three  boats- closed 
around  the  gallant  little  crew. 

"Yield?"  cried  one  of  the  officers  of  the  pirates,  a 
Malay,  who  spoke  English  tolerably  well. 

Jem  Frost,  the  coxswain  of  the  boat  leaped,  upon  the 
speaker,  and  with  one  desperate  stroke,  he  cut  him  fairly 
through  the  skull,  so  that  his  death  must  have  been 
almost  instantaneous. 

This  was  the  signal  for  a  renewal  of  the  fight. 

The  scramble  was  so  hot,  and  they  were  also  so  closely 
jammed,  that  their  weapons  were  half  the  time  idle. 

They  clubbed  each  other  with  pistols,  and  struck  out 
with  their  fists. 

But  this  could  not  last  long. 

English,  Yankees,  and  Chinese  fell  in  the  water,  and 
clutched  with  such  fierce  desperation  that  they  sank 
together  in  each  other's  arms,  and  when,  from  sheer 
exhaustion,  a  momentary  lull  took  place  in  the  fearful 
carnage,  but  one  man  was  sufficiently  unhurt  on  board 
the  American  boat  to  stand  upright. 

This  was  Jem  Frost. 

He  stood  up,  bleeding  from  three  flesh  wounds  in  the 
face,  and  holding  in  his  hand  his  trusty  cutlass,  dripping 
with  the  blood  of  five  or  six  of  the  enemy,  whom  he  had 
put  out  of  the  way  of  doing  further  mischief  in  this 
world,  and  looking  so  formidable  that  the  enemy  scarce 
dared  to  tackle  him  alone. 

"Lower  your  arm,  Jem,"  cried  his  old  messmate,  who 
had  turned  traitor,  "  and  they'll  give  you  quarter." 

' '  That's  a  lie  !  "  retorted  Jem  Frost,  ' '  and  you  know  it. " 

"I  swear " 


170  JACK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Hold  your  jaw,  I  don't  want  no  palaver  with  a  de- 
serter. You're  one  of  the  enemy.  Look  to  yourself,  for, 
damme,  here's  for  you. " 

Saying  which  the  gallant  fellow,  in  sheer  desperation, 
sprang  at  him  and  cut  him  down. 

Then,  swinging  round  his  fearful  weapon,  he 
shouted — 

"Come  on,  you  infernal  pirates,  and  try  the  strength 
of  a  true  sailor. " 

And  he  did  damage  right  and  left,  until  his  sword  arm 
was  broken  by  a  pistol  shot  ;  and  as  his  weapon  dropped 
by  his  side,  the  pirates  fell  upon  him  and  bore  him  down, 
and  they  stabbed  and  jabbed  and  cut  at  the  brave  fellow 
until  his  body  was  hacked  into  a  score  of  bits,  and  thrown 
to  the  ravenous  sharks  who  followed  the  scent  of  blood. 

"Throw  the  prisoners  into  the  water  to  the  sharks," 
ejaculated  the  chief  officer  of  the  pirates,  "and  let  us 
see  them  eaten." 

It  would  have  been  done,  too,  had  not  Hunston  inter- 
fered. 

"  I  want  to  save  two  of  them,"  he  said. 

"Who  are  you  that  gives  orders  ?  We  can  save 
none." 

And  so  saying,  the  ruffian  pirate  waved  his  hand  as  a 
signal  to  his  men. 

The  poor  wounded  sailors  were  hurled  over,  and  fell 
a  speedy  prey  to  the  ravenous  sharks,  who  played  about 
ttie  boats,  reddening  the  water  at  each  fresh  step  in  this 
horrible  feast. 

Two  of  the  pirates  dragged  up  young  Jack,  who  was 
nearly  insensible  from  fatigue  and  loss  of  blood,  and 
were  about  to  hurl  him  overboard. 

At  this  critical  moment  Hunston  showed  both  presence 
of  mind  and  determination. 

Whipping  out  his  revolver,  he  presented  it  full  at  the 
officer  who  had  given  the  command. 

"Stay  your  hand.  If  they  throw  the  boy  in,  you 
shall  die  and  follow  him." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  Silence,  or  you  shall  share  his 
fate. " 

"Put  the  boy  down." 

The  two  men  looked  at  their  officer  for  confirmation  of 
this  order. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  171 

The  officer  felt  unhappy  in  his  mind,  for  Hunston's 
/istol  was  near  his  head,  and  so  he  signified  by  a  word 
of  assent  that  they  could  obey  the  obstinate  and  one- 
armed  savage. 

You  shall  pay  for  this  with  your  life. " 

"I'm  quite  ready,"  answered  Hunston  "to  your  cap- 
tain, when  we  get  on  board.  "In  the  meantime,  I  shall 
see  those  two  boys  taken  to  the  ship  alive.  They  are  not 
to  die  yet,  and  not  so  quickly  as  that.  When  their  time 
does  come,  you  shall  be  satisfied." 

And  that  is  how  young  Jack  Harkaway  and  Harry 
Girdwood  came  to  be  preserved  by  their  enemy,  Hun- 
ston. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

WHERE   IS    YOUNG  JACK  ? 

DOV/BTLESS  the  reader  is  wondering  how  Hunston,  a 
prisoner  on  board  the  American  ship,  contrived  to  escape 
and  in  company  with  the  traitor  who  had  refused  to  fight 
against  the  Chinese  pirates,  and  who  had  been  sent  below 
by  Captain  Disher  in  disgrace. 

It  was  the  simplest  matter  in  the  world. 

When  the  man  had  gone  below,  he  had  come  in  con- 
tact with  Hunston,  and  soon  his  dissatisfaction  had  been 
perceived  by  the  prisoner. 

Now,  Hunston  was  not  slow  to  profit  by  such  a  circum- 
stance as  this,  and  soon  there  sprang  up  between  these 
two  false  men  a  mutual  understanding. 

It  is  needless  to  enter  into  particulars  now  ;  suffice  it 
to  say  that  they  made  a  guilty  compact  together. 

The  traitor  sailor  got  a  boat  during  the  confusion 
which  prevailed  on  board,  and  profiting  by  the  state  of 
affairs,  he  and  Hunston  contrived  to  get  clear  off  the 
ship. 


Captain  Disher  watched  in  breathless  interest  the  con- 
flict of  the  boats. 


172  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

But  when  he  saw  his  brave  people  beaten  down,  hurled 
into  the  water  one  after  another,  he  turned  away  in  a  very 
troubled  state  of  mind. 

But  all  this  time  Harkaway  had  no  idea  that  his  boy> — 
young  Jack — and  Harry  Girdwood  were  in  one  of  the 
boats,  and  consequently  amongst  the  slain  or  prisoners. 

Poor  Harkaway  ! 

He  little  dreamed  that  the  life  of  his  boy  hung  on  a 
thread  during  that  critical  time. 

"They  are  all  done  for,"  said  Harkaway,  turning  to 
the  captain. 

"I  fear  so,"  said  the  captain,  after  a  pause.  "But 
look  again,  Mr.  Harkaway.  Have  they  thrown  all  the 
prisoners  overboard  ?  " 

"All — stay,  they  appear  to  be  taking  one  or  two  on 
board." 

"Indeed!" 

"Yes." 

"Can  you  distinguish  who  they  are?  " 

"  No  ;  yet  stay,  they  look  to  me  just  like  two  boys." 

"Boys?" 

"Yes." 

"  How  came  boys  to  be  on  such  a  service  ?  I  sent  no 
boys." 

"Why,  there's  one  just  gone  up,"  continued  Harka- 
way, peering  through  his  glass,  "that  looks  about  the 
age  of  my  Jack.  You — surely  you  never  accepted  his 
service." 

"I — I — I  really  don't  know  ;  there  were  so  many," 
replied  the  captain,  "  asking  to  engage  with  the  pirates. 
But  I  trust  your  brave  boy  is  not  with  them." 

"Sir,  if  my  boy  has  been  permitted  to  make  one  of  the 
fighting  crews  in  those  boats,  you  shall  account  to  me  for 
his  death." 

"Shall?" 

"  Yes— shall." 

"Mr.  Harkaway  !"  cried  Captain  Disher,  "you  forget 
yourself. " 

"If,"  continued  Harkaway,  not  heeding  the  inter- 
ruption, "if  it  be  shown  that  you  have  aided  my  rash 
boy  to  destroy  himself,  you  shall  account  to  me  for  it, 
sir — to  me,  with  your  life." 

Captain  Disher  bowed 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  17* 

"I  am  always  at  your  service,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  he  re< 
plied,  coldly,  "when  and  where  you  please;  once  my 
duties  ended  on  board  this  ship,  you  may  depend  I  shali 
be  ready  to  meet  you. " 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE     FRUITS     OF    GLORY. 

CAPTAIN  DISHER  and  Harkaway  did  not  exchange  a  word 
for  some  time,  but  the  captain  made  inquiries,  and  found 
to  his  regret  that  both  young  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood 
were  of  the  party  in  the  boats. 

When  they  had  dropped  out  of  rifle  range  of  the  pirates, 
Magog  Brand  and  Mr.  Jefferson  came  down  from  their 
perches  in  the  rigging. 

"  Captain  Disher,"  said  the  latter,  "we  have  paid 
heavily  for  our  triumph. " 

The  captain's  countenance  fell  at  this. 

"  Poor  boy,"  murmured  Jefferson.  "  Brave  young 
Jack  ?  Who  will  break  the  news  to  his  mother?  I 
wouldn't  face  her  for  one." 

The  skipper  winced. 

If  these  were  the  sentiments  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  who  was 
in  no  way  responsible  for  young  Jack's  loss,  how  must 
he — the  captain — have  felt  ? 


'Captain." 
'Well,  Ben?" 

'  Heard  the  latest  news,  your  honour,  from  below  ?  '* 
'  Below  !  " 
'Aye,  sir." 

'  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 
'Why,  he's  escaped." 
'  The  captain  started. 
'  Who's  escaped  ?  " 

'The  prisoner — that  there  one-finned  skunk." 
'  Hunston  ? " 
'The  same." 


174  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  How  the  dickens  could  he  have  got  away?  " 

"  In  a  boat.  While  we  was  fighting  the  ship,  he  got  a 
boat  somehow." 

"But  he  had  no  assistance  at  hand." 

"  That's  where  you're  wrong,  sir,"  replied  Ben  Hawser. 
*'  He  had  that  confounded  warmint  you  sent  below  'cause 
he  got  the  bellyache  about  having  to  fight  a  bit." 

"You  don't  mean " 

"That's  what  I  do  mean,  captain,"  returned  Ben, 
gravely;  "and  what's  more,  one  of  our  men  see  'em,  in 
their  boat,  cut  off  our  men's  retreat  in  the  cutter. " 

"Indeed!"  ejaculated  the  captain,  with  an  oath.  "I 
hope  I  may  live  to  see  the  villain  swinging  at  our  yard- 
arm.  " 

Ben  shook  his  head. 

"  You'll  never  do  that,  Captain  Disher,"  he  answered 
gravely. 

"Won't  I,  by " 

"No." 

"I  will." 

"'Scuseme,  captain,  you  never  will,  for  he's  already 
ate  up  by  the  sharks.  Brave  Jem  Frost  cut  him  down, 
and  then  got  finished  himself.  But  he  gave  'em  some- 
thing all  round,  it  seems,  before  they  could  settle  him. " 

' '  Brave  fellow  !  " 

"  He  was  that,  sir.  It  seems  he  peppered  them  right 
and  left,  raked  'em  fore  and  aft,  as  one  might  say,  in  a 
manner  of  speaking. 

"Blow  me,  Captain  Disher,"  continued  Ben  ;  "  it  gives 
me  a  tingling  in  the  snout  as  if  my  blessed  peepers  was 
a-going  to  begin  pumping. 

"  Damme,  sir,  they're  hanging  out  signals  of  distress 
already  for  my  old  pal,  Jem  Frost." 


Need  we  say  that  Mrs.  Harkaway  was  heartbroken 
when  she  became  aware  of  her  loss  ? 

The  shocking  mishap,  which  closed  their  otherwise 
triumphant  brush  with  the  pirate,  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
whole  of  the  ship's  company  and  passengers  for  the  rest 
of  the  voyage. 

Poor  Emily  1  it  seriously  affected  her  health. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  175 

Do  what  they  would,  she  could  not  be  roused  from  the 
deep  melancholy  which  settled  upon  her. 

Jack  and  their  many  friends  vainly  tried  to  comfort 
her. 

Mr.  Jefferson  exerted  all  his  reasoning  powers,  and 
exerted  them  in  vain. 

"You  must  not  make  yourself  so  wretched  over  this, 
Mrs.  Harkaway,"  he  repeated  continually.  "  You  see 
that  our  Jack  has  a  special  knack  of  his  own  of  getting 
out  of  the  most  difficult  scrapes." 

She  shook  her  head  and  sighed  in  reply. 

"This  is  more  difficult  than  all,  Mr.  Jefferson,"  she 
would  say.  "I  dare  not  even  hope  that  my  poor  boy 
lives." 

'  I'll  bet  my  life,  ma'am,  that  he  does." 
'It  is  not  likely." 
'  Why  not  ?  " 

'  You  think  as  you  wish.  I  would  that  I  could  too." 
'My  dear  lady,"  the  giant  Kentuckian  would  reply, 
"I  don't  simply  think,  I  know,  positively  know — it  is  a 
species  of  instinct  with  me,  that  is  precisely  the  same  as 
positive  knowledge — your  boy  lives,  and  will  be  restored 
to  you.  Of  that  you  may  be  as  sure  as  that  we  two  are  at 
present  here  talking  together." 

"I  wish  I  could  think  so,"  was  all  the  answer  that  the 
bereaved  mother  could  make. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

BELLICOSE  MOLE. 

SOME  days  after,  our  old  friend,  Mole,  ventured  on  deck 
and  met  the  little  Frenchman. 

"  My  name  is  Isaac  Mole,  sir,  at  your  service." 

"And  I  am  called  Hypolite  Potiron,  monsieur,  your 
tres  humble  serviteur" 

And  they  exchanged  bows. 

The  Frenchman  was  as  full  of  motion  as  the  dancing 
barber. 

Mr.  Mole  bowed  with  the  grace  of  a  Chesterfield,  in 


176  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

spite  of  a  certain  stiffness  caused  by  the  rigidity  of  his 
wooden  member. 

"We  can  congratulate  ourselves,  sir,  upon  having 
given  those  wretches  a  wholesome  lesson,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

Happy  Mole ! 

He  was  under  the  impression,  as  he  spoke,  that  he  had 
materially  contributed  to  their  success. 

Already  he  forgot  the  painful  sensations  he  had 
experienced  during  the  action,  and  how  he  had  sought 
comfort  and  consolation  under  the  bedclothes  with  Mrs. 
Mole  in  their  berth. 

He  humbugged  himself  no  less  than  his  hearer. 

And  that  was  saying  something. 

"I  haven't  given  those  rascals  such  a  lesson,  mon- 
sieur," said  Mr.  Mole,  "not  for  years." 

"  Truly,  sir." 

"A  fact,  sir." 

' '  Have  you  ever  had  the  disagreeable  honour  of  fighting- 
ze  pirate  before,  sare  ?  " 

"Fighting  !  "  echoed  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  withering  look 
at  the  Frenchman.  "  I  see  you  do  not  know  me  so  well 
as  the  war  offices  of  all  nations  do." 

And  then  he  was  buried  in  silent  reflection  for  several 
minutes,  as  if  mentally  fighting  his  battles  o'er  again. 

"  Fighting,  monsieur !  "  he  went  on  ;  "why,  the  action 
in  which  I  commanded  was,  perhaps,  the  hottest  on 
record. " 

"  Indeed,  sare  !  " 

' '  A  fact,  sir. " 

"The  pirates  must  have  been  nombreux — numbrous, 
what  you  call — dat  is  frequent. " 

"  Numerous,  you  mean,  Monsieur  Potiron,"  suggested 
the  tutor. 

"  Ah,  yes." 

"Well,  of  course." 

"Great  odds,  as  you  say." 

"Forty  to  one,"  returned  Mr.  Mole,  unblushingly. 

"Morbleuf" 

"Yes,  sir  ;  and  I  fought  eighteen  of  them  single-handed, 
and  in  fact,  I  may  mention  that  I  was  more  embarrassed 
by  the  bodies  of  the  slain  which  I  piled  up  around  me 
than  by  all  else.  Two  hours  and  a  quarter  of  mortal  strife 
went  on,  and  I  smote  them  hip  and  thigh." 


A D  VENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  i  7 7 

"On  the  hip  and  on  the  thigh?  How  could  you, 
sare,  always  strike  in  ze  same  places  ? " 

Mr.  Mole  replied  by  a  supercilious  smile. 

"A  figure  of  speech,  my  friend,"  he  said  ;  "  they  fell 
before  my  arm  like  ripe  corn  before  the  sickle.  One  of 
them  shot  me  through  the  breast.  I  had  two  sabre  cuts 
on  the  head,  and  I  lost  this  leg  in  that  fight." 

"Vat  a  great  man!"  cried  the  little  Frenchman,  in 
profound  admiration. 

"You  flatter  me,"  said  the  diffident  Mole. 

"You  must  be  a  very  great  personage  in  England," 
said  Monsieur  Potiron. 

Mr.  Mole  smiled  complacently. 

"  Well,  yes,  history  will  record  my  deeds." 

"  Mais  si — yes  ;  a  great  capi/atne." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "  I  must  confess  that  my  little 
feats  were  much  talked  about  in  England.'' 

"Your  little  feets?  You  mean,  sare,  ze  one  you  have 
lose  ? " 

Mr.  Mole  looked  puzzled  at  this. 

He  could  not  fathom  M.  Potiron's  meaning  for  a 
while. 

But  presently  it  dawned  upon  him. 

"I  see  your  mistake,  monsieur,"  he  said;  "I  don't 
mean  feet —  not  f-double-e-t,  but  feat — f-e-a-t — a  deed  of 
daring,  in  this  instance." 

"  Oh-h-h,  I  see  !  "   exclaimed  the  Frenchman. 

"Yes,"  pursued  Mr.  Mole  ;  "I  was  known  for  a  long 
while  as  Mole  the  Bold  Buccaneer." 

"Truly?" 

"Yes." 

"  Mole  ze  Buccaneer." 

"Mole  the  Bold  Buccaneer,"  continued  the  tutor, 
calmly  ;  ' '  by  others  I  was  known  as  Mole  the  Avenger — 
some  called  me  Mole  the  Pirates'  Terror." 

Monsieur  Potiron  stepped  back  to  take  a  long  look  of 
deep  admiration  at  the  disinterested  Mole,  who  was  so 
condescending  as  to  relate  his  own  glories  for  his 
(Potiron's)  special  edification. 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  wild,  extravagant  admi- 
ration which  the  little  Frenchman  had  for  Isaac  Mole  from 
that  moment. 

Continentals  are  more  given  to  gesticulating  than  we 
ia 


^78  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

islanders,  and  Monsieur  Potiron  expressed  as  much  with 
a  shrug  and  a  grimace  as  Mr.  Mole  could  have  done  in  a 
long  speech. 

"  I  know  now,  sare,"  said  he,  after  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion. 

"Know  what  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Mole. 

"Why  ze  pirate  have  done  so  little  when  we  engage 
him." 

"  Do  you  ?     Why  ? " 

"  Dey  have  hear  that  you  were  on  board." 

"Likely  enough,"   returned  the  tutor. 

"  It  is  sure." 

"  It  would  not  surprise  me,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "  for  it  has 
been  my  lot  to  see  a  villanous  pirate  once  strike  his 
colours  without  so  much  as  firing  a  shot  when  I  sum- 
moned him  to  surrender." 

"  Nevare." 

"Fact,  sir." 

"  And  what  did  you  to  them,  vid  de  pirates  ?  " 

"  Hung  'em  up  to  our  yardarm  ;  seven  of  a  row,  sir,  as 
I'm  a  sinner." 

"Extraordinaire!"  exclaimed  M.  Potiron. 

"So  you'd  have  said  if  you  had  only  seen  our  crew. 
Why,  sir,  they  were  twenty  to  one,  and  carried  forty 
guns,  while  we  hadn't  so  much  as  a  howitzer." 

"What  is  he,  howitzer,  Monsieur  Mole?" 

"  A  small  gun,  a  little  cannon.  The  pirate  chief  was  a 
desperate  fellow,  over  six  feet  high,  and  big  in  proportion. 
He  did  all  he  could  to  make  his  men  fight,  but  they  were 
demoralised." 

' '  By  your  great  name  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"Oh!" 

"  Well,  sir,  he  seemed  to  think  himself  hardly  done  by, 
so  I  thought  I  would  give  him  a  chance." 

"It  was  too  generous  of  you,  sare." 

"Perhaps,  but  then  I  always  respect  courage." 

"  I  could  not  hang  him  in  cold  blood  with  the  rest,  so 
I  challenged  him  to  single  combat." 

"  'Crt  nont  d'une  pipe!"  ejaculated  Monsieur  Potiron  ; 
"vat  a  hero  it  is — and  you  did  fight?  " 

"Yes,  he  was  a  tough  customer. 

"  He  chose  to  fight  with  swords,  cutlasses. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 

"We  fought  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 

"I  ran  him  through  the  body  five  times,"  said  Mole, 
flourishing  his  umbrella,  "  but  he  would  not  give  in,  so  I 
was  forced  to  cut  him  to  bits  literally. 

"  A  most  remarkable  man. 

"He  saluted  me  as  he  fell,  covered  with  wounds,  and 
his  last  words  were  a  compliment  to  me — an  undeserved 
compliment,  I  may  say." 

"No,  no." 

"Indeed  it  was." 

' '  And  vat  said  ze  pirate  to  ze  brave  Monsieur  Mole  ?  " 

Mr.  Mole  coughed,  and  after  a  moment's  reflection 
said — 

"The  last  words  of  the  pirate  chief  were — 'Honour  to* 
the  brave  Mole. '  " 

"  Allew  me  ze  distinguished  honour,  Monsieur  Mole," 
said  the  Frenchman,  with  a  most  elaborate  bow,  "ta 
take  your  hand.  It  is  a  privilege  most  distinguL  I 
felicitate  the  greatest  warrior  the  world  has  seen  since  my 
father  was  in  the  world. " 

"  Your  father !" 

"Yes." 

"  Was  he  a  great  soldier?  " 

"What,  sare  !  Is  it  possible  dat  you  do  not  know  my 
father !  " 

" I  regret  to  say  I  did  not." 

"  He  was  the  great  rival  of  Bonaparte." 

"  Dear,  dear  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  "  that  carries  us 
back  a  very  long  way. " 

"  Certes — assuredly.  My  father  won  his  fame  by  his 
bravery,  Monsieur  Mole.  Not  by  scheming,  as  de  oder 
did.  Dey  was  at  ze  bataille  of  Marengo  togezer.  Ze 
bataille  was  lose." 

"Lost." 

"Lost.  Out — lost  but  for  my  fader — father  I  mean. 
At  the  head  of  ten  men  he  stood  the  charge  of  a  whole 
wing  of  the  enemy's  army — five  thousand  !  " 

Mr.  Mole  opened  his  eyes  at  this. 

When  not  lying  himself,  he  was  keenly  alive  to  the 
ridicule  of  wild  exaggeration  in  others. 

"Ten  men!" 

"Ten,  sare." 

"Your  father  was  a  corporal,  then,  I  suppose." 


180  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOAPS 

"No,  sare  ;  he  was  a  general  and  marechal  of  France.* 

"And  a  general  commanding  ten  men  !  "  repeated  Mr. 
Mole,  in  some  disgust. 

"Come,  I  say,  monsieur,  don't  you  think  you  are 
"nistaken  about  the  general  details  ?  " 

"No,  sare." 

"  You  must  be." 

Monsieur  Potiron  looked  as  fierce  as  a  maggot. 

' '  I  don't  mistake,  sare,  and  I  can  prove  it  at  the  point 
ifze  sword  to  any  body." 

Mr.  Mole  coughed. 

He  had  not  expected  quite  so  fierce  a  retort 

"  I  wonder,"  thought  he  to  himself,  "  if  he  really  means 
»t,  or  if  he  is  only  trying  to  bounce  me." 

He  thought  he  would  test  it. 

So  he  put  on  a  swagger. 

"I  know  much  about  the  point  of  the  sword,  Monsieur 
Potiron,"  he  said,  "  and  I  am  acquainted  with  pistols." 

"Ah  I" 

"I  can  snuff  a  candle  at  eighteen  paces." 

"Oh!" 

"  I  can  toss  up  a  glove  and  cut  out  the  thumb  before  it 
reaches  the  ground." 

"  Never  !  " 

"A  fact,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Mole,  modestly. 

"Or  I  can  spot  every  pip  on  the  nine  of  hearts,  every 
shot." 

"Dat  is  vat  I  call  ver'  good  shooting,  sare." 

"Well,  it  isn't  to  say  bad." 

"  No,  parbleu  !  you  must  be  a  man  to  fear." 

"No,  not  to  fear,"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "I  manage  to  in- 
spire respect  by  keeping  myself  in  good  practice,  that's 
all ;  ever  since  I  winged  those  three  men  in  the  trenches. " 

"Three!" 

"Yes!" 

"Vat!  all  together?" 

"Yes,  it  was  all  at  the  same  affair;  in  point  of  fact,  I 
potted  them  all  three,  as  near  as  a  toucher,  simultaneously, 
and  this  was  how  it  was  done. 

"We  fought  with  revolvers  ;  I  picked  one  off,  and  be- 
fore they  could  say  Jack  Robinson,  turned  my  weapon, 
and  gave  the  other  two  the  contents  of  a  chamber  each." 

"Wonderful!" 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  181 

"Not  wonderful,"  said  Mr.  Mole;  "the  fact  is,  shoot- 
ing became  a  science  with  me." 

" Evidemment,"  said,  Potiron,  "evidently." 

"  You  have  never  seen  my  feat  of  shooting  straight  up 
in  the  air  and  cutting  the  bullet  with  another  before  it 
can  reach  the  earth." 

Monsieur  Potiron  gasped  again  at  this. 

"You  don't  mean  that  I  must  believe  dat?" 

"  It  is  a  fact,  sir. " 

"Sare,"  said  Monsieur  Potiron,  looking  indignant, 
"you  laugh  at  me." 

"  I  would  not  be  so  rude,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "though 
I  don't  wonder  at  your  supposing  you  were  being  laughed 
at." 

"Why,  sir?" 

"You  must  be  used  to  getting  laughed  at." 

"Morbleu/"  ejaculated  Potiron,  ferociously,  "  you 
shall  answer  for  dat. " 

"With  pleasure,"  returned  Mr.  Mole,  cheerfully. 
"  Shall  I  fetch  my  pistols?  " 

"No,  sare,  ze  sword  is  ze  only  arm  dat  a  gentleman 
can  fight  with." 

"Pistols." 

"  I  insist  upon  ze  sword." 

"Very  good,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  complacently.  "You 
shall  have  a  sword,  and  I'll  bring  up  my  pair  of  revolvers. 
D'ye  see  ? " 

"No,  sare." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  shall  quarte  and  tierce,  and  thrust  away 
till  you  are  sick,  and  I'll  pepper  you." 

"Peppareme!     'Cr£,nom  dun  chtenf  Peppare  me?" 

"Yes,  monsieur,"  said  Mole  throwing  himself  into  an 
attitude  calculated  to  inspire  the  other  with  awe.  "And 
damme,  sir,  you  will  not  be  the  first  one  I  have  peppered. 
So  take  a  Christian  man's  counsel  and  go  and  make  your 
will." 

What  ? " 
Your  will." 
Vill !     Vat  is  vill  ?  " 
'Your  last  dying  words." 
'Oh!  " 

The  notion  appeared  to  make  Monsieur  Potiron  just  a 
little  uncomfortable. 


182  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Mr.   Mole  perceived  his  advantage. 

He  swaggered,  and  looked  as  terrible  as  Pistol  himself 
on  the  field  of  Agin  court. 

"  I  don't  care  to  make  two  or  three  bites  at  a  cherry," 
said  Mole,  with  his  regular  military  cough.  "I  shall 
very  soon  put  you  out  of  your  trouble  for  this  wicked 
world." 

The  Frenchman  could  not  brag  so  loud  as  Mole,  and 
so  he  had  to  lower  his  colours. 

He  muttered  something  about  meaning  no  offence,  and 
being  sure  that  the  brave  Mole  was  as  skilful  at  the  pistol 
gallery  as  he  averred. 

"Only,  sare,  I  wish  to  express  my  admiration  of  you, 
•voilci  tout.  I  could  not  find  words  to  make  you  compre- 
hend how  very  much  I  admire " 

Mr.  Mole  interrupted  him  with  a  patronising  wave  of 
the  hand  and  a  smile. 

"That  is  enough,  monsieur,"  he  said  superciliously  ; 
"only  I  never  allow  anybody  to  call  my  courage  in  ques- 
tion, for,  sir,  I  am  ready  to  fight  any  man  that  does  so." 

' '  Of  course. " 

"And  my  pistols  are  still  at  your  service  if — if  you 
doubt  either  my  narrative  or  my  courage." 

"  Mr.   Mote." 

"Hullo!" 

Mr.  Mole  and  the  Frenchman  jumped  back,  startled 
half  out  of  their  lives. 

Just  behind  them  was  a  large  sea  chest,  and  from  the 
rear  of  this  two  figures  suddenly  rose  up. 

They  were  Pike   and  Nabley,  the  English  detectives. 

They  had   been  sitting  there  to  rest  themselves  and 
compare  notes  when  Mole  and  Mr.   Potiron  came  up. 
'  Mr.   Mole. " 

'  Mr.   Pike  !  Godness  gracious,  how  you  startled  me  !  " 
' Indeed  ? " 

'Yes,  I  did  not  know  there  was  anybody  there." 
'  I  want  a  word  with  you,  if  you  please." 
'  With  pleasure,  Mr.   Pike.     What  is  it,  pray  ? " 
'In  private,  if  possible,  Mr.  Mole." 
'  Dear  me,  yes. " 

So  he  stepped  aside  with  the  detective. 

"  It  is  a  very  unpleasant  matter  I  have  come  upon,  sir," 
began  the  detective,  with  hesitation. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  183 

"  Nothing  wrong,  I  hope,  Mr.   Pike  ?  "  said  Mr.   Mole. 

Pike  was  silent. 

Mr.   Mole  appealed  to  Nabley. 

•  But  the  latter  was  evidently  loth  to  break  the  un- 
pleasant intelligence,  whatever  it  was  ;  for  he  turned 
aside  as  well,  and  his  glance  fell  to  the  ground  while  he 
heaved  a  faint  sigh  of  commiseration. 

"The  fact  is,  sir,"  said  Nabley,  "I  wouldn't  for  one 
have  broached  this  subject  if  I  hadn't  happened  to  over- 
hear a  word  or  two  that  fell  from  you  just  now." 

"  Ahem,"  said  Mr.   Mole,  a  bit  uneasily. 

"Nor  would  I  for  another,  Mr.   Mole." 

"Will  you  speak  out?  "cried  Mr.  Mole,  goaded  on 
now  to  fierceness. 

"Well,  then,  sir — then — there,  Nabley,  you  tell  it,  I 
haven't  the  heart  to," 

"The  fact  is,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Nabley,  " my  friend 
Pike  has  come  on  a  very  awkward  mission.  He  comes 
with  a  message  of  defiance." 

"What?" 

"A  message  of  defiance,"  repeated  Nabley. 

"A  challenge? " 

"Yes." 

"  Goodness  me! " 

"  I  thought  you  would  say  so,"  exclaimed  Pike. 

"Who  from  ?" 

"From  a  fierce  American  gentleman  who  thinks  him- 
self affronted,  and  whom  nothing  can  pacify." 

"  Surely  not,  Mr.  Jefferson  ?  "  said  Mole.  Nabley  shook 
his  head. 

"No;  the  gentleman  we  mean  has  been  confined  to 
his  room  with  a  bad  cold,  but  he  has  now  recovered,  and 
feels  himself  strong  enough  to  fight  any  three  men  on 
board. " 

"  His  name,  his  name  !  "  gasped  Mole. 

"Well,"  said  Nabley,  "  his  fighting  name  is  Brick." 

"Oh!"  gasped  Mr.  Mole,  staggering  back.  "Brick 
«gain  !  Why  was  a  Brick  born  ?  " 

"You  know  him?" 

"I  should  think  I  do." 

"Why,  he  told  me  he  had  never  seen  you,  but  that  you 
had  grossly  insulted  him." 

"I  didn't." 


1 8 4  JACK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

•'He  says  you  did.  Well,  it  appears  that  he  followed 
you  on  board  solely  for  the  sake  of  fighting  you  and  hav- 
ing- your  life." 

"The  ruffian  ! " 

"  Well,  if  he  doesn't  meet  you  soon  in  mortal  combat, 
he  says  he'll  shoot  you  down  anywhere  he  can  see  you." 

"Why,  that  would  be  murder." 

"  Of  course  ;  but  he  says  he  has  murdered  six  men, 
and  you  will  make  the  seventh — and  he  likes  odd 
numbers." 

"You  will  not  allow  him  ?  " 

"To  murder  you?     No." 

"Quite  right,"  said  Mr.  Mole;  "you  are  sensible 
men,  both  of  you,  and " 

"And  this,"  said  Pike,  "  is  how  I  propose  to  obviate  all 
danger  of  murder." 

"Ah,  "said  Mr.  Mole,  eagerly,  "let  me  hear  your  plan, 
dear  friend." 

"  You  shall  fight  him." 

"  What  ?  "     shouted  poor  Mole. 

"Wait  a  bit,  we  shall  choose  pistols.  We  are  the  ag- 
grieved party,  and  the  choice  is  with  us  ;  we  choose 
pistols." 

"Pistols!" 

"  Yes,  revolvers." 

"Why?" 

"Can  you  ask?  " 

"Can  I?  Of  course  ;  damme,  sir,  I  do,"  cried  Mr. 
Mole,  working  himself  up  into  a  perfect  fever. 

"The  reason  is  that  you  shall  get  first  fire,  and  wing 
him.  You  break  his  sword  arm,  you  understand?" 

Mr.  Mole  felt  as  though  all  his  inner  machinery  had 
dropped  down  a  foot. 

"That  will  suit  you  to  a  turn,"  said  Pike  ;    "eh,  sir?" 

"But  I  might  not  have  a  steady  hand,  and  miss." 

"Not  likely." 

"  No,  it  is  not  ;  but  I  might  miss  my  aim  and  wound 
him  badly." 

"So  much  the  worse  for  him. " 

Mole  winced. 

"Ahem,  yes." 

"Now,  supposing,"  said  Pike,  "that  the  Frenchman 
acts  for  you  ?  I'll  tell  him." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  185 

"No,  no,"  ejaculated  Mr.  Mole,  hurriedly  ;  "not  him. 
See  this  dreadful  Brick  for  me,  Mr.  Pike,  and  say  I  should 
prefer  our  duel  to  come  off  when  we  land." 

"He  wouldn't  believe  me,  and — hullo,  why,  here 
comes  Mr.  Brick  with  pistols  and  swords.  My  gracious, 
Mr.  Mole,  there'll  be  murder  done." 

The  tutor  shot  along  the  deck  like  a  deer,  stumped 
away  to  his  berth,  and  was  seen  no  more. 


It  was  at  first  thought  by  Pike  and  Nabley  that  he  was 
going  to  seek  the  seclusion  of  his  state  room. 

But  this  was  a  mistake. 

Mr.  Mole  had  no  intention  of  doing  anything  of  the 
kind. 

He  fully  believed  that  the  ferocious  Solomon  Brick  was 
on  board  the  ship  thirsting  for  his  blood. 

It  seemed  probable  enough  that  Pike  saw  him  coming 
along  armed  to  the  very  teeth. 

At  the  risk  of  being  considered  a  coward,  he  sought 
refuge  in  flight,  making  as  quick  time  as  his  wooden  leg 
would  permit. 

He  was  getting  used  to  his  timber  support  now. 

It  did  not  inconvenience  him  half  so  much  as  it  had 
done  at  first. 

Nevertheless,  he  often  worried  over  it  in  secret,  though 
he  did  not  allow  his  friends  to  notice  his  grief. 

In  fact,  it  was  a  great  calamity  to  him,  in  that  it  made 
him  look  ridiculous. 

He  did  not  like  to  be  alluded  to  as  old  wooden  leg,  or 
old  timber  toes. 

It  had  also  affected  his  nerves  somewhat. 

Mr.  Mole  felt  that  he  could  not  encounter  this  terrible 
Brick. 

If  he  had  known  that  Harvey  and  the  others  were  con- 
juring up  Mr.  Brick  as  a  joke,  he  would  have  swaggered 
in  his  best  fashion. 

This,  however,  was  hidden  from  him. 

He  had  not  the  remotest  idea  that  it  was  only  a  phan- 
tom Brick.  . 

Dreadfully  alarmed,  he  hurried  to  the  ship's  stern. 

During  the  day,  he  had  noticed  a  small  boat  floating  in 
her  wake  and  attached  to  her  by  a  rope. 


1 86  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Another  rope  dangled  from  the  bulwarks,  having  knots 
at  intervals  for  anyone  to  go  down  hand  underhand. 

This  boat  had  been  used  by  one  of  the  officers  for  fish- 
ing in  the  morning. 

The  dawn  had  broken  without  a  breath  of  wind. 

They  were  becalmed  in  the  Pacific,  with  a  hot  sun  beat 
ing  down  upon  them. 

This  was  just  the  time  for  fishing,  and  the  officer  in 
question  had  the  boat  lowered,  got  in,  hoisted  the  little 
sail,  and  enjoyed  himself  for  a  few  hours. 

The  dead  calm  had  continued  all  day  long. 

Those  who  were  weatherwise,  had  predicted  that  a 
breeze  would  spring  up  before  sundown. 

As  yet  it  had  not  made  its  appearance. 

There  was  an  awning  over  the  after  part  of  the  boat ; 
some  cushioned  seats  were  displayed  near  a  large  locker, 
and  a  general  air  of  comfort  and  retirement  pervaded  the 
small  craft. 

The  sail  hung  lazily  against  the  mast,  the  tiller  moved 
backwards  and  forwards  as  the  listless  waves  struck 
against  it. 

Without  any  hesitation,  Mole  got  hold  of  the  knotted 
rope  and  descended  into  the  boat 

He  had  to  be  very  careful,  for  if  he  had  come  down 
with  a  run,  he  might  have  stove  a  hole  in  the  bottom  with 
his  wooden  leg. 

When  he  landed  safely,  he  went  aft,  sat  down  and 
chuckled  to  himself. 

In  his  coat  pocket  he  had  a  bottle,  which  he  produced, 
also  a  glass  and  a  flask  of  water. 

Needless  to  say  that  the  bottle  in  question  contained  a 
liquor  known  as  rum. 

He  took  a  drink  and  sighed  deeply,  with  a  satisfied 
air. 

The  officer  who  had  been  fishing  had  left  his  line  and 
bait  in  the  boat. 

Mr.  Mole  baited  the  hook  and  cast  the  line  overboard,, 
lighted  a  manilla  cigar,  and  beamed,  positively  beamed, 
with  a  blissful  consciousness  that  he  was  safe. 

His  enemy,  Brick  could  not  injure  him  now. 

If  he  found  him  out  and  attempted  to  enter  the  boat, 
the  hunted  and  harassed  professor  resolved  to  cut  himself 
adrift 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  187 

Rather  would  he  trust  himself  to  the  mercy  of  the  waves, 
than  be  compelled  to  face  Solomon  Brick. 

That  he  was  fairly  panic-stricken,  there  could  be  no 
doubt. 

While  he  smoked,  drank,  and  thought  of  calm  content, 
as  becomes  a  gentle  angler,  he  imagined  that  his  retreat 
had  been  unobserved. 

It  was  his  firm  belief  that  neither  Pike  nor  Nabley  had 
seen  where  he  went. 

This  was  altogether  a  mistaken  idea. 

They  had  followed  him  at  a  distance,  and  were  already 
plotting  how  they  could  have  some  more  fun  out  of  him. 

"Twig  the  old  cockalorum  in  the  boat,"  exclaimed 
Pike. 

"  I  spy,"  replied  Nabley. 

"  He  is  making  himself  comfortable,  and  no  mistake. 
We  shall  have  to  rouse  him  up  a  bit " 

' '  How  will  you  do  it  ? " 

"  I'll  go  down  the  rope  and  join  him  in  the  boat,"  said 
Pike. 

"What  then?" 

"You  must  help  in  the  joke.  Mole  and  I  will  talk,  fish, 
drink  and  smoke.  I  intend  to  sympathise  with  him,  but 
at  the  same  time  I  will  work  him  up  against  Brick." 

"Isn't  it  time  to  drop  it?"  asked  Nabley. 

"Why  should  we?  Mr.  Harvey  likes  it,  and  Mr.  Hark- 
away  does  not  object." 

"That's  true." 

"Old  Mole  was  made  to  guy,"  continued  Pike. 

"Mind  you  don't  give  him  fits.  He  might  jump  over- 
board and  be  drowned. " 

"Would  he  be  any  loss ? " 

"  Decidedly  yes.  I  like  the  old  boy.  Let  him  down 
easy. " 

"Very  well,"  said  Pike.  "This  is  what  you  have  to 
do  :  While  the  learned  and  erudite  professor  and  I  are 
enjoying  our  dear  selves,  you  must  look  over  the  stern." 

"What  for?" 

"  Give  an  alarm  of  Brick." 

"  Oh  !  I  see.  All  right,"  answered  Nabley,  "  I'll  do  it ; 
but  if  anything  serious  happens  from  it,  do  not  blame 
me." 

' '  What  rot ! "  said  Pike,  "  as  if  anything  could  happen. " 


1 88  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"I  don't  know  :  great  things  from  little  causes  come. 
But  we  must  do  something  for  a  lark.  Life  is  so  awfully 
monotonous  on  board  ship  :  no  work  to  do  ;  can't  play 
cards  or  read  all  day.  It's  too  hot  to  go  in  for  much  ex- 
ertion, so  we  will  play  Mole  for  all  he  is  worth.  Make  a 
start." 

"  I  am  going  to  do  so,"  replied  Pike. 

"  Shall  I  hide  ?" 

"Certainly,  bob  down  under  the  bulwarks.  It  won't 
do  to  let  him  see  you." 

"When  am  I  to  chuck  a  brick — I  mean,  say  that  this 
human  Brick  is  coming  ?  " 

"In  about  five  minutes." 

' '  Right ;  enough  said, "  answered  Nabley. 

His  companion,  Pike,  who  was  agile  enough  to  go  down 
a  rope,  let  himself  descend  into  the  boat. 

Mr.  Mole  was  fishing  diligently. 

"Hullo!"  exclaimed  Pike,  "I  didn't  know  you  were 
here,  sir." 

"Keep  it  dark,  then.  What  do  you  want  ? "  asked  the 
professor. 

"I  was  about  to  have  a  little  fishing." 

"  Hold  your  noise  ;  I've  got  a  bite." 

Mole  jerked  his  line  and  pulled  out  a  large  sized  fish. 

"That  is  not  so  bad,"  he  continued.  "It  makes  the 
third  I've  hooked. " 

"  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  your  skill." 

"Everybody  knows  I  am  a  good  fisherman.  If  Isaac 
Walton  were  alive,  he  would  not  be  in  it  with  me." 

"  Boasting  again,"  remarked  Pike. 

"  I  have  a  right  to  brag  when  I  can  do  a  thing  well. 
Take  this  line,  Mr.  Pike,  and  see  if  you  can  catch  one  of 
the  finny  tribe." 

"With  pleasure.     What  are  they  ?  " 

"  Sun-fish — something  like  our  English  bream — shy  fel- 
lows, and  no  fight  in  them." 

"Indeed?" 

"  Ah  !  If  you  want  sport,"  added  Mole,  "  you  should 
go  in  for  sharks  or  whales. " 

"  Did  you  ever  catch  a  whale  ? " 

"  Thousands  of  them,  when  I  was  In  Labrador." 

"I  was  not  aware  that  you  ever  had  been  in  such 
high  latitudes. " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  189 

' '  You  don't  know  everything.  Where  have  I  not  been  ? 
All  over  the  world,  I  reckon." 

"  Great  man,"  replied  Pike. 

' '  You  may  well  say  that.  Great  men  are  never  thor- 
oughly appreciated  until  they  are  dead." 

Pike  took  the  line  from  Mole  and  began  to  fish  ;  but  he 
had  no  luck  at  all. 

Not  a  bite  could  he  obtain. 

The  fish  were  off  the  feed,  or  he  was  singularly  clumsy. 

"  Where's  that  fellow  Brick?"  asked  Mole,  into  whose 
head  the  rum  was  getting. 

"Gone  below,  I  think.  He  could  not  find  you,  so  he 
made  himself  scarce." 

"What  did  the  low  ruffian  say  ?  " 

"Simply  that  he  meant  to  have  it  out  with  you." 

"  He  is  welcome  to  do  so  at  any  appointed  time.  I 
am  ready  to  meet  him ;  but  the  affair  must  be  arranged 
in  a  regular  manner  :  seconds,  and  all  that  kind  of  thing, 
you  know.'1 

"  Certainly.     That  is  only  fair." 

"  If  the  low,  bellicose  scoundrel  talks  to  me,  I  shall 
knock  him  down." 

"No,  I  would  not  do  that,"  said  Pike. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"He  has  two  legs,  you  have  only  one.  Don't  you  see 
that  you  would  be  placed  at  a  disadvantage  ?  " 

Mole  uttered  a  groan. 

"Yes,"  he  rejoined,  "  I  am  a  cripple.  Everyone  taunts 
me  with  my  misfortune. " 

"  I  didn't  mean  it  that  way." 

"  Why  can't  this  infernal  half-baked  Brick  let  me 
alone? " 

"  He's  terribly  vindictive." 

* '  So  am  I  when  I  am  roused.  Bless  me,  let  him  be- 
ware !  I  will  pulverise  this  lump  of  cooked  clay,  this 
Brick  out  of  a  kiln." 

"Don't  talk  so  loud,"  said  Pike. 

"  I  will  not  hold  my  tongue  for  anyone,"  responded 
Mole. 

"  He  might  hear  you." 

"  I  am  prepared  for  him.  There  will  be  murder  on  the 
high  seas,  if  he  dares  to  interfere  with  me." 

"Look  out  I     I  fancy  I  hear  his  voice,"  said  Pike,  put- 


190  JAC/i  SI  ARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

ting  his  hand  to  his  ear,  and  assuming  a  listening  atti- 
tude. 

' '  Keep  him  away  from  me.  I  shall  do  him  a  mis- 
chief." 

"Or  he  you? " 

Suddenly  Nabley  appeared  at  the  stern  of  the  ship. 

"  Below  !  "  he  cried. 

"  Ahoy  !  "  answered  Pike. 

"  Have  you  seen  Mole  ?  He  is  not  on  board.  Brick  is 
coming." 

"The  gentleman  is  in  the  boat.  I  came  down  to  have 
some  fishing,  and  found  him  here." 

"Tell  him  to  look  out.  Brick  swears  he  will  have  his 
life." 

"All  right.     I'll  warn  him." 

"  Here  he  is  ;  he  has  heard  me.  I'm  afraid  he  will 
come  down  into  the  boat,"  answered  Nabley. 

Mole  got  up  from  his  seat  and  took  a  knife  from  his 
pocket.  He  turned  pale  under  his  sunburnt  skin. 

"I'll  be  bothered  if  he  comes  here.  I — I  don't  want  to 
calcine  this  Brick.  I  pity  the  poor  fool,  and  therefore  I 
will  sever  the  rope,"  he  said. 

"Do  what?"  asked  Pike. 

"Cut  the  boat  adrift." 

"Are  you  mad? " 

"  Perhaps  I  am.     You  are  all  trying  to  make  me  so." 

Saying  this  he  stumped  forward  and,  before  Pike  could 
stop  him,  cut  the  rope. 

The  tide  was  running  quickly,  and  in  a  minute,  the 
form  of  the  ship  began  to  rapidly  recede. 

There  was  a  current,  apparently,  which  was  carrying 
them  away. 

"  Help,  help  !  "  exclaimed  Pike. 

"  Put  your  sail  up  !  "  shouted  Nabley. 

' '  What's  the  use  without  any  wind  ?  "  replied  Pike. 

"You  will  be  lost." 

"I  know  it.     The  madman  has  done  it  on  purpose." 

A  dense  mist  began  to  rise  from  the  sea. 

This  is  a  very  frequent  occurrence  in  those  latitudes. 

In  less  than  five  minutes,  the  boat  containing  Mr.  Mole 
and  Pike,  was  out  of  sight. 

Nabley 's  shouts  brought  Harkaway  and  Harvey  on 
deck. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  191 

They  had  been  enjoying  a  siesta  in  the  cabin. 

"What  the  deuce  are  you  making  all  this  hullaballoo 
about  ? "  enquired  Harkaway. 

"We've  carried  the  joke  too  far,  sir,"  replied  Nabley. 

"  Explain  yourself." 

"Mr.  Harvey  started  it  about  Solomon  Brick,  with  Mr. 
Mole." 

' '  And  you  have  carried  it  on  ?  " 

"Well,  Pike  and  I  took  a  hand  in  it,  just  now.  Mole 
got  into  the  boat  which  was  riding  astern.  Pike  went 
after  him.  I  said  Brick  was  coming,  and  Mole  cut  the 
painter." 

"Where  are  they?" 

"Adrift  in  the  mist." 

"  Good  heaven  !  "  cried  Harvey,  "  they  will  be  lost." 

"  I  fear  so,"  replied  Harkaway.  "The  captain  told  me 
there  was  a  storm  brewing." 

"Just  so.     A  calm  always  precedes  it" 

"  What  is  to  be  done?"' 

"Hanged  if  I  know!" 

The  three  men  looked  at  one  another. 

It  was  certainly  an  awkward  predicament  for  Mole  and 
Pike  to  be  placed  in. 

There  were  other  boats  on  board  the  ship. 

To  lower  them,  however,  in  the  mist  would  be  worse 
than  useless. 

"I  am  really  very  sorry  I  started  on  Mole,  now,"  re- 
marked Harvey.  "He  will  be  drowned,  and  I  should 
not  like  to  lose  him." 

"Nor  I,"  Jack  answered,  feelingly.  "Hehasbeenmy 
friend — I  may  say,  our  friend — Dick,  from  boyhood." 

"That's  true."' 

"And,  with  all  his  faults,  we  like  him." 

"  I  do  and  always  did  ;  but,  for  the  life  of  me,  I  can't 
help  chaffing  him  sometimes." 

"It's  just  the  same  with  me,"  replied  Jack. 

ilabley  coughed,  as  if  to  hide  some  emotion. 

"I  will  chip  in  for  self  and  partner,"  he  said.  "We 
have  no  ill-feeling  towards  the  old  gentleman." 

"How  to  find  and  save  them  is  the  question,"  con- 
tinued Jack.  "  Here  we  are,  becalmed  in  a  mist." 

"It  may  lift,  sir.     I  hope  it  will,  for  Pike's  sake." 

"  We  can  do  nothing  at  present,"  added  Jack.     "  When 


192  JACK  HARKA IVA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

the  wind  rises  the  fog  will  clear  off;  and  then  we  must 
cruise  about  and  try  to  pick  up  the  castaways." 

' '  That  won't  be  so  easy  as  you  think, "  observed  Harvey. 

"Do  you  mean  that  we  shall  have  to  say  good-bye  to 
poor  old  Mole  and  the  clever  Mr.  Pike  ?  " 

"  It  strikes  me  very  forcibly  that  we  shall." 

"  Confound  the  luck  !  That  is  what  comes  of  practical 
joking.  Mole  was  driven  mad." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  that,  or  he  would  not  have  cut 
himself  adrift.  It  is  all  my  fault,"  said  Harvey. 

"  I  have  lost  my  son,  and  now  I  have  lost  the  tutor," 
replied  Jack. 

"  Let  us  hope  that  we  shall  recover  both  of  them." 

"It  is  a  puzzle.  All  we  can  do  is  to  stand  by  and 
search  the  ocean  when  we  get  some  wind. " 

"There  is  a  capful  coming  !  " 

"So  there  is,  Dick,"  exclaimed  Harkaway.  "Look! 
the  mist  is  rising.  We  shall  have  a  bellyful  of  it,  as  the 
sailors  say,  in  a  few  minutes." 

"Good  luck,  my  boy  !  We'll  find  Mole,  if  possible," 
Harvey  answered. 

The  wind  had  come  at  last. 

It  was  rapidly  dissipating  the  fog. 

The  captain  and  the  crew  were  soon  at  work  hoisting  a 
spread  of  canvas,  and  all  was  bustle  and  activity. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

ADRIFT    ON    THE    OCEAN    WAVES. 

WHEN  the  boat  drifted  away  with  the  current,  Pike 
searched  for  some  oars. 

He  was  unable  to  find  any. 

Rushing  to  the  mast,  he  seized  the  halliards  and  hoisted 
the  sail. 

It  flapped  idly  against  the  mast,  for  there  was  no 
wind. 

Then  the  mist  rose  with  appalling  suddenness,  and  he 
glared  viciously  at  Mole. 

The  latter  had  lighted  a  fresh  cigar,  and,  sitting  down 
comfortably,  was  sipping  his  rum  and  water. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


'93 


"You've  done  a  fine  thing.  Think  you've  scored  this 
time,  don't  you  ?  "  exclaimed  Pike. 

"What's  the  matter?  "  asked  Mole. 

"We're  adrift,  you  old  idiot  !     A  fog  has  enveloped  us." 

"Better  that  than  I  should  be  massacred.  I've  done 
Brick.  As  I  said  before,  why  was  a  Brick  born  ?  " 

"  We  shall  starve,  get  drowned,  or  captured  by  pirates, 
or  perhaps  be  eaten  by  sharks. " 

"I  care  not,"  answered  Mole.  "A  man  can  only  die 
once." 

"In  that  case,  why  did  you  not  fight  Solomon  Brick?" 

"That  might  have  been  a  sudden  death,  and  I  like  to 
take  my  time  about  every  thing. " 

"Dolt!" 

"  Call  me  names.  I  tell  you  I  am  reckless.  The 
persecution  I  have  been  subjected  to  has  been  too  much 
for  me." 

"Then  you  are  mad  !  " 

"Just  as  mad  as  the  proverbial  hatter." 

Pike  groaned  in  agony  of  spirit. 

He  could  not  see  the  end  of  this  adventure,  and  h« 
ardently  wished  he  was  on  board  ship  again. 

"I  don't  care  if  we  drift  to  the  North  Pole,  or  get 
chucked  on  a  desert  island,"  continued  Mole. 

"Or  swallowed  by  a  whale,"  suggested  Pike. 

"That's  better  than  being  bitten  by  a  pike  like  you. 
Oh,  you  fresh  water  shark  !  " 

"Why,  I'm  your  friend." 

"Yes,  you  are — just  as  much  as  a  hawk  is  to  a  bird," 
replied  Mole. 

"  If  I  get  you  on  a  desert  island,  you  pumpkin  headed 
old  donkey,  I'll  try  and  knock  some  sense  into  you,  and, 
as  this  sea  is  full  of  small,  and  to  some  extent,  unin- 
habitated  islands,  there  is  a  chance  of  it." 

"Man,  I  despise  you.  Savages  respect  me,  but  you 
don't ! " 

"I  don't  know  what  is  to  become  of  us,"  groaned 
Pike. 

'*'  Make  your  miserable  life  happy,  as  I  am  doing." 

' '  Not  a  bad  idea.     Pass  the  grog. " 

"Help  yourself,  and  welcome.  Don't  take  too  much," 
said  Mole,  with  an  anxious  look. 

"Certainly  not.     Drink  fair,  is  my  motto." 

13 


194  SA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

He  poured  out  a  good  half  tumbler  full  and  drank  it 
down  at  a  draught. 

"Hand  that  bottle  back.  You've  had  enough,"  said 
the  professor. 

"All  right !     Here  you  are." 

Mr.  Mole  repossessed  himself  of  his  cherished  bottle. 

He  hugged  it  to  his  breast  with  affection. 

"  Your  only  friend,  eh  ? "  remarked  Pike. 

"  Let  us  hold  in  our  arms  those  we  love  in  our  hearts," 
said  Mole,  sentimentally. 

"Wouldn't  it  be  nice  if  there  was  a  grog-shop,  or  float- 
ing public-house,  anchored  every  couple  of  miles  on  the 
ocean,"  observed  Pike. 

"  First-class  idea  !     Patent  that." 

"As  commerce  increases,  and  if  there  were  many 
passengers  like  you,  it  would  pay." 

"  Like  the  bank,  sir.     I'm  proud  of  you,  I  am  indeed." 

At  this  moment,  a  large  wave  struck  the  boat. 

It  careened  to  port,  instantly. 

Before  it  righted  itself,  Mole  fell  off  the  thwart  on  his 
back. 

His  bottle  was  broken. 

Its  precious  contents  were  spilled  in  the  bottom  of  the 
boat. 

"Oh,  dear!  I'm  done  for,"  he  shouted.  "The  doctors 
all  said  that  I  should  never  travel  without  a  drop  of  rum, 
to  be  used  medicinally." 

He  was  lying  on  his  back,  with  his  wooden  leg  cocked 
up  in  the  air  at  an  angle  of  thirty-five  degrees. 

"Get  up.      Don't  lie  like  that,  you  ninny." 

"  It  sounds  well  in  you  to  call  me  names." 

"Why  shouldn't  I,  when  you  deserve  it?"  asked  Pike. 

"Confound  such  lubbers  !  "  cried  Mole.  "  Didn't  you 
turn  the  boat  broadside  on  that  wave  ?  " 

"I  didn't  touch  the  tiller.  I  don't  know  how  to  manage 
a  boat.  It  isn't  in  my  line.  If  you  are  so  clever,  why 
don't  you  take  the  helm  ?  " 

"So  I  can.  Do  you  suppose  I  can't  handle  a  cockle- 
shell of  a  craft  such  as  this  ?  Assist  me  to  rise,  as  you 
ought  to. " 

"I'll  help  you  do  anything  if  you  won't  make  a  show 
and  exhibition  of  yourself. " 

"  In  return,"  said  Mole,  "I  will  teach  you  to  reef  and 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE   WORLD.  195 

steer,  to  clew  up  ten  thousand  topsail  short  blocks,  to 
splice  the  mainbrace,  to  splinter  the  jibboom  and — and  to 
shiver  your  timbers  generally,  as  becomes  a  man-of-war's 
man." 

"All  that  in  once  !  "  laughed  Pike. 

"Hoist  the  Union  Jack!  Let  fly  the  Blue  Peter! 
Fire  a  royal  salute,  and  prepare  to  receive  the  port 
admiral  ! " 

' '  Who's  he  ? " 

"Your  humble  servant,  Isaac  Mole,  K.C.B.,"  was  the 
reply. 

Pike  gave  the  Professor  a  hand. 

He  was  soon  sitting  on  the  thwart  again. 

Stretching  forth  his  hand  to  get  hold  of  the  tiller,  he 
made  a  discovery. 

The  door  of  a  large  locker  flew  open,  displaying  to  the 
delighted  gaze  of  the  professor  a  store  of  good  things. 

There  was,  to  begin  with,  what  turned  out  to  be  a 
gallon  of  rum  in  a  stone  bottle,  a  bag  of  biscuits,  various 
canned  meats,  a  good-sized  keg  of  fresh  water,  a  ham 
boiled  and  just  cut,  and  a  couple  of  chickens. 

These  had  been  destined  for  the  captain's  table,  but  the 
officer  who  had  been  fishing  bribed  the  Stewart  to  let  him 
have  them. 

He  had  intended  to  go  out  again  the  next  day,  and  left 
the  provisions  in  the  locker,  so  that  he  could  start  at  an 
early  hour  if  the  calm  continued. 

'  Here's  a  find  !  "  cried  Mole,  uncorking  the  rum. 
'Corn  in  Egypt,"  said  Pike,  quite  as  pleased. 
'  Balm  in  Gilead,"  continued  the  professor. 
Rum  on  the  ocean." 

'  It  will  soon  be  rum  in  the  stomach.  It's  very  rum  al- 
together ;  but,  thank  our  stars,  we  shall  not  starve.  Shake 
hands,  old  fellow.  You're  n<jt  such  a  bad  sort,  after  all." 

They  made  up  their  dispute,  enjoyed  an  excellent 
repast,  lighted  cigars,  and  talked  the  situation  over. 

One  thing  was  agreed  on  between  them. 

They  must  stick  together  for  mutual  preservation. 

The  boat  would  require  careful  handling. 

A  squall,  in  that  treacherous  sea,  might  overtake  them 
at  any  moment,  and  capsize  their  frail  boat. 

The  result  of  their  confabulation,  was  that  they  agreed 
to  keep  watch  and  watch. 


196  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

The  watches  were  to  be  of  four  hours'  duration  each, 
and  as  they  were  both  possessed  of  time-keepers,  there 
could  be  no  mistakes. 

Pike  consented  to  take  the  first  watch. 

He  hoisted  the  sail,  took  the  rudder,  and  guided  the 
boat  before  the  waves. 

Feeling  the  want  of  sleep,  Mole  made  himself  as  com- 
fortable as  he  could  on  some  tarpaulin  at  the  bottom  of 
the  boat. 

He  was  soon  fast  asleep. 

Pike  continued  to  sail  the  boat 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

LAND  HO  ! — LIFE  ON  AN  ISLAND — A  STRANGE  ADVENTURE. 

PIKE  steered  the  boat  until  his  watch  was  up. 

When,  according  to  agreement,  he  roused  Mr.  Mole. 

Having  no  nautical  knowledge,  and  being  without  a 
compass,  he  did  not  know  in  what  direction  they  were 
going. 

He  was  simply  sailing  before  the  wind,  as  it  is  called. 

Possibly,  he  might  be  nearing  the  China  Coast,  but  it 
was  just  as  probable  that  he  was  travelling  towards  the 
South  Pole.  His  mind  was  ill  at  ease. 

The  provisions  they  had  so  luckily,  we  may  almost  say 
providentially,  found  in  the  locker,  would  not  last  them 
many  days. 

If  they  did  not  fall  in  with  some  vessel  which  would 
pick  them  up,  they  must  starve. 

In  addition  to  this  contingency,  there  was  the  danger 
of  meeting  with  a  storm  or  tempest. 

Their  little  barque  would  soon  be  capsized. 

In  Pike's  opinion,  there  were  sharks  about,  and  he  was 
not  in  reality  mistaken. 

Scarcely  had  he  roused  Mole  than  there  was  a  strange 
sound  in  the  air. 

It  was  early  morning. 

The  sun  had  risen  about  half-an-hour. 

The  noise  was  made  by  a  quantity  of  flying  fish. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  197 

At  least  a  dozen  fell  into  the  boat,  the  others  shooting 
over  it. 

"What's  roused  those  beggars?"  asked  Pike. 

"Can't  you  see  ?  "  replied  Mole. 

He  pointed  to  the  ocean. 

The  horrible  form  of  a  large  shark  was  to  be  seen. 

It  had  perhaps  been  following  in  their  wake  all  night. 

"Shark,  eh?  I  thought  as  much,"  said  Pike.  "Those 
creatures  always  make  my  flesh  creep." 

Mr.  Mole  smiled  contemptuously. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  it  doesn't  take  much  to  upset 
your  nervous  system,"  he  remarked.  "There  is  no  harm 
in  sharks  when  you  get  used  to  them." 

"  How  is  that  to  be  accomplished?  "  inquired  Pike. 

"Tame  them.  Once,  when  I  lived  near  the  sea,  I  had 
a  pond  constructed  to  hold  six  fine  sharks.  I  used  to  feed 
them  liberally  on  pigs,  horses,  cows,  dead  donkeys,  an 
occasional  live  nigger  or  two,  and " 

"  Draw  it  mild  !  "  interrupted  Pike. 

"Fact,  I  assure  you." 

"  Take  your  oath  to  it,  I  suppose  ? " 

"Make  an  affidavit  and  kiss  the  book,"  replied  Mole, 
with  imperturbable  solemnity. 

"You'll  do!" 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?" 

"  You  ought  to  get  on  ;  you  do  try." 

"Mr.  Pike,  do  you  mean  to  insinuate  that  I  am 
romancing  ?  "  asked  the  professor. 

"Wire  in  and  get  your  name  up  to  date." 

"  I  am  telling  you  a  shark  story.  If  you  don't  want  to 
listen  to  it,  say  so.  If  you  do,  haul  in  your  slack,  as  the 
sailors  phrase  it." 

"Pile  it  on." 

"I  suppose  that  is  your  elegant  way  of  telling  me  to 
proceed  with  my  narrative  ? " 

"That's  about  the  size  of  it.     Keep  it  up." 

"Well,  these  sharks  got  to  know  me.  They  would 
come  to  the  side  of  the  pond  when  I  whistled  them,  and 
actually  extend  their  fins  for  me  to  touch,  as  if  we  were 
shaking  hands." 

"That  takes  it !  "  cried  Pike. 

"What?  " 

' '  The  cake.  You're  the  champion  !  I'll  give  you  the 
belt" 


198  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

"  Do  you  doubt  my  veracity  ? " 

"Oh,  dear,  no!  I  believe  every  word  of  your  story, 
over  the  left,"  replied  Pike. 

"You  are  an  extremely  rude,  ill-bred  person." 

"Excuse  me.      I  must  speak  my  mind." 

' '  I  treat  your  ignorance  with  contempt — yes,  sir,  with 
the  contempt  it  merits. " 

"Thank  you.     I  am  grateful  for  small  favours." 

"All  the  same,"  continued  Mole,  "I  shall  go  on  with 
my  shark  story.  Now  I  have  commenced,  I  will  not  be 
put  down  by  vulgar  clamour. " 

"I  apologise.      It  sha'n't  occur  again." 

"That  is  the  way  to  speak  to  a  gentleman  of  my 
acknowledged  powers." 

"Score  one." 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir,  by  your  interruptions  and  in- 
terpolations ?  " 

"  Happy  thought  !     Book  it. " 

"  Do  you  intend  to  convey  that  I  am  not  telling  the 
truth  ?  " 

"  What  price,  Ananias?" 

"Sir,  that  is  an  insult!  Ananias  was  the  prince  of 
liars.  The  Baron  Munchausen  came  very  near  beating 
him,  but  at  weight  for  age,  Ananias  remains  the  master." 

"  Go  on  :  I'm  listening." 

"Were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  I  should  be  alone  in  this 
boat  if  I  threw  you  to  the  sharks,  I'd  do  it,"  said  Mole. 

"  Where  should  I  be  while  you  were  trying  it  on  ?  " 

"  In  my  arms — compressed  by  muscular  power — hurled 
into  the  sea,  like  chaff  to  the  winds  !  " 

"  You — not  me,"  replied  Pike. 

"Be  silent,  if  you  want  me  to  conclude,  and  do  not, 
my  good  fellow,  allow  yourself  to  be  carried  away  by 
the  exuberance  of  your  own  verbosity.  Now  pay  atten- 
tion. " 

"  I  will  endeavour  to  do  so." 

"It  is  about  the  only  thing,  I  am  told,  that  you  detec- 
tive men  ever  do  pay.  You  pay  attention  to  your  orders, 
but  you  never  pay  your  debts — unprincipled  vagabonds. 
However,  let  us  return  to  our  sharks,"  said  Mole. 

"First  of  all,  you  must  retract." 

"  I  never  take  anything  back." 

"Oh!  You  must,  or  I'll  paste  you.  Didn't  you  call 
me  a  vagabond  ? " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD 


199 


*•  Ah  !  yes.     I  used  the  word,   but  not  personally." 

"How  is  that?" 

"  I  was  talking  of  the  detective  force  generally,  and  iiot 
indicating  you  in  particular." 

Mr.  Mole  had  always  a  clever  way  of  getting  out  of  a 
difficulty. 

Seeing  that  he  had  pacified  his  companion,  who  was 
inclined  to  be  irascible,  he  proceeded. 

"  I  always  did  like  you,  Pike,  and  should  be  very  sorry 
to  fall  out  with  you,"  he  observed. 

"Don't  rub  me  the  wrong  way,  then." 

"Certainly  not.  Your  feathers  shall  not  be  ruffled  by 
me.  I  will  coach  you  in  such  a  way  that  you  shall 
become  as  tame,  docile,  and  subservient  as  my  sharks." 

"What  did  they  do?" 

"I  got  them  into  such  a  state  of  perfection,  that  they 
allowed  me  to  draw  their  teeth.  After  which,  I  used  to 
bathe  amongst  them,  ride  on  their  backs,  and " 

"  Drop  it !  "  Pike  interrupted.  "  I  can't  stand  any  more 
of  it.  Take  the  tiller  and  let  me  sleep  it  off." 

"  If  you  allude  to  my  yarn " 

"Turn  it  up,  governor.     I'm  tired,"  protested  Pike. 

He  threw  himself  down  on  the  tarpaulin  that  Mole  had 
vacated. 

Lying  on  his  side,  he  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  and 
was  quickly  in  the  land  of  dreams. 

"It  takes  a  lot  to  convince  some  people,"  remarked 
Mole.  ' '  That  man  doesn't  believe  my  shark  story.  He 
is  a  sceptic.  I  can  see  it  in  his  unbelieving  face.  A 
prophet  is  ever  without  honour  in  his  own  country.  I 
will  tell  him  an  untrue  story  next  time.  It  shall  be  a 
snake  story,  and — ha  !  ha  ! — a  whopper." 

Laughing  to  himself,  the  professor  took  a  piece  of  rope 
and  lashed  the  tiller  hard-a-lee. 

He  liked  to  save  himself  trouble  if  he  could,  and  as  it 
was  breakfast-time,  he  'thought  he  would  take  the  edge 
off  his  appetite. 

Some  canned  salmon  and  corned  beef,  with  biscuit  and 
a  little  rum  and  water,  satisfied  him. 

As  the  little  boat  darted  over  the  crest  of  the  waves, 
he,  as  his  companion  had  been  doing,  reflected  upon  the 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed. 

Being  of  a  sanguine  disposition,  he  did  not  despair. 


2  00  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SONS 

During  his  travels  with  Harkaway,  he  had  been  placed 
in  many  awkward  positions. 

Yet   he  had  managed  to  come  out  all  right  at  the  end. 

After  sailing  for  a  couple  of  hours,  he  saw  something  on 
the  verge  of  the  horizon. 

It  looked  to  him  like  land. 

He  strained  his  eyes,  and  gazed  in  great  excitement, 
until  he  made  out  the  form  of  a  tree. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  distinctly  saw  more  trees. 

Pike  was  still  sleeping  soundly. 

The  professor  did  not  wake  him  up,  as  he  knew  that 
he  needed  rest. 

Altering  the  course  of  the  boat,  Mole  steered  for  the 
island. 

For  such  he  supposed  it  to  be. 

He  knew  that  they  could  not  be  within  hundreds  of 
miles  of  the  mainland. 

Keeping  on  for  a  few  hours,  he  beheld  a  low-lying 
shore. 

It  was  well  wooded. 

His  delight  knew  no  bounds. 

He  could  contain  himself  no  longer. 

Within  a.  mile  was  a  lovely  island,  which  promised  them 
an  asylum. 

Far  better  was  that  than  being  buffeted  about  in  an 
open  boat. 

Going  up  to  Pike,  he  shook  him  by  the  arm. 

"Wake  up  !  "  he  cried. 

"What's  the  matter  now?"  asked  Pike,  rubbing  his 
eyes.  "Has  the  shark  got  aboard  ?  If  so,  you'd  better 
better  tame  him." 

"Land  ho  !  "  exclaimed  Mole. 

"  By  Jingo  !     That  is  good  news." 

"See  for  yourself,  if  you  don't  believe  me." 

Pike  sprang  up,  and  looking  in  the  direction  indicated, 
discovered  what  appeared  to  be  land  in  the  distance. 
With  feelings  similar  to  what  the  Israelites  of  old  may  be 
supposed  to  have  felt  with  regard  to  the  Promised  Land, 
he  caught  Mole  by  the  hand,  shaking  it  heartily. 

"Bravo!"  he  said.  "We  are  saved.  Let  the  wind 
blow  and  send  us  along  gaily. " 

"If  it  is  a  desert  island,  we  shall  be  all  right,"  Mole 
answered  ;  "  but  if  there  are  savages  on  it,  look  out  i  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  201 

"  Don't  talk  about  savages." 

"We  must  look  facts  in  the  face." 

"My  dear  Mr.  Mole,  you  are  conjuring  up  dangers. 
Don't,  please  don't,  meet  danger  half-way." 

"We  will  hope  for  the  best,"  replied  Mole;  "but  I 
have  been  wrecked  in  these  seas,  and  I  dread  the  worst." 

The  wind  increased  in  volume,  and  the  boat  rapidly 
drew  near  the  island. 

Its  aspect  became  more  pleasing  and  agreeable  the 
nearer  they  got  to  it. 

They  could  see  monkeys  on  the  ground  and  on  the 
branches  of  the  trees. 

Parrots,  and  other  gaudily  plumaged  birds  flew  about, 
and  the  imposing  red,  white,  and  blue  cockatoo  was  not 
absent. 

At  length,  the  yawl  beached  herself  upon  the  sand. 

The  tide  was  low,  and  they  noticed  a  quantity  of  shell- 
fish. 

Some  resembled  clams,  others  were  oysters,  and  there 
was  a  variety  of  the  crab  species. 

Stepping   out,  the   two    men   gave   vent   to  a  burst  of 

joy- 
it  was  such  an  unspeakable  relief  to  get  on  dry  land 
once  more. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  cried  Mole.  "  This,  I  expect,  is  an  island. 
I  will  name  it." 

' '  What  are  you  going  to  call  it  ?  "  asked  Pike. 

"I  suppose  you  would  like  it  to  be  known  to  posterity 
as  Pikeland  ? " 

"Yes,  that  sounds  all  right." 

' '  Does  it  ?     Moleland  sounds  better." 

"You  always  place  yourself  first.  That's  the  worst  of 
you. " 

' '  Why  shouldn't  I  ? "  replied  Mole.      " I  am  a  rarity." 

"  By  Jove,  you  are  !  " 

"  You  will  never  look  upon  my  like  again." 

"Not  much  ! " 

"I  am  the  kind  of  human  article,  sir,  which,  once  gone, 
is  remarkably  hard  to  replace." 
.    "  So  I  should  think." 

"  Men  similar  to  you  Pikes,  are  as  common  as  black- 
berries ;  but  Moles,  if  you  want  the  genuine  article  up  to 
date,  are  very  rare." 


2  02  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Quite  unique,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"That  is  the  word.  Now,  sir,  allow  me  to  welcome 
you  to  the  newly  discovered  territory,  Moleland. " 

"  I  thought  it  was  a  little  bit  of  an  island  just  now?  " 

"  Not  it.     I  wouldn't  discover  an  island." 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"It's  a  new  continent.  I  feel  satisfied  it  is.  Why,  sir, 
do  you  imagine  for  a  moment  that  I,  Professor  Mole,  B.  A. 
and  M.  A.,  that  is  to  say  (to  enlighten  your  ignorance) 
Batchelor  of  Arts  and  Master  of  Arts,  of  Oxford  University, 
would  condescend  to  discover  any  tract  of  land  less  than 
a  continent  ?  " 

"  It's  rather  a  large  order,"  answered  Pike. 

"Did  Columbus  go  about  discovering  paltry,  dirty,  in- 
significant little  islands  ?  " 

"Certainly  not." 

' '  Nor  shall  I.  This  is  a  gigantic,  collossal,  stupendous 
discovery. " 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  Oh,  you  little  think  that  I  am  opening  up  a  new  con- 
tinent to  civilization.  It  will  be  an  outlet  for  the  teem- 
ing millions  of  Europe — the  safety  valve  which  will  save 
our  brethren  from  overcrowding  in  slums  and  starving 
in  a  period  of  agricultural  distress. " 

Pike  touched  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"If  you  want  to  make  a  speech,  deliver  an  oration,  or 
write  an  article  for  a  newspaper.  Don't  you  think  you 
had  better  postpone  it  for  a  more  fitting  occasion  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  had.  We  will  take  a  drink  to  christen  the 
new  continent  called  Moleland.  After  which,  we  will  ex- 
plore. " 

" Right  you  are.     Beach  the  boat." 

This  advice  of  Pike's  was  necessary,  because,  if  they 
had  left  the  yawl  where  she  grounded,  the  tide  would 
have  later  on  taken  her  away. 

They  could  not  afford  to  lose  their  boat. 

At  some  future  time,  and  perhaps  at  no  remote  date, 
they  would  want  to  leave  Moleland,  as  the  professor  had 
termed  it  in  his  comical  and  consequential  manner. 

When  the  boat  was  hauled  up  in  safety,  they  indulged 
in  a  glass  of  rum  and  water. 

A  walk  inland  revealed  th«  fact  that  the  place  was  ex- 
tremely fertile. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  203 

Cocoanuts,  grapes,  bananas  and  pineapples  grew  in 
great  profusion  almost  everywhere. 

In  the  distance  they  could  see  a  range  of  hills. 

From  these,  which  formed  the  watershed  of  what  sub- 
sequently proved  to  be  one  of  the  small  islands  of  vol- 
canic origin,  so  frequently  met  with  in  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
a  stream  of  pure  sweet  water  flowed  to  the  sea. 

High  up  on  the  beach  were  pieces  of  wood. 

These  were  portions  of  wreckage. 

Showing  that  some  ship  had,  at  some  time  or  other, 
been  cast  upon  the  shore  in  a  tempest. 

A  little  farther  on  they  came  upon  some  skeletons. 

These  formed  part  of  the  crew. 

Turning  away  from  the  ghastly  relics,  they  walked 
along  the  shore. 

Rounding  a  corner  which  was  covered  with  palm  trees, 
they  sighted  a  ledge  of  rocks. 

Here  were  thousands  of  birds  of  the  gull  kind. 

They  were  so  tame  that  the  men  were  able  to  knock 
them  down  with  their  hands. 

"This  doesn't  look  like  an  inhabited  island,"  remarked 
Mole. 

"I  thought  it  was  a  continent,"  replied  Pike. 

"That's  what  I  mean.  If  men  exist  here,  the  birds  are 
wonderfully  tame. " 

"  I  should  imagine  it  is  deserted." 

"Looks  to  me,"  continued  Mole,  "like  a  shore  that 
Captain  Kidd  or  Paul  Jones  would  have  selected  to  hide 
his  plunder  in." 

"  A  treasure  island  ? "  asked  Pike. 

"That  is  precisely  what  I  mean." 

"You  may  be  right.  If  there  is  a  buried  treasure  here, 
I  hope  we  may  find  it." 

"  We'll  have  a  try,  for  it  strikes  me  very  forcibly  that 
we  shall  have  nothing  to  do  for  a  long  time  to  come." 

"Worse  luck,  that's  true,"  answered  Pike. 

"  Heigho  !  "  added  Mole,  pathetically.  "It's  rough, 
but  it's  got  to  be  borne." 

The  only  chance  of  their  quitting  this  island,  seemed  to 
consist  in  attracting  the  notice  of  a  passing  ship  in  some 
way. 

It  might  be  done  by  a  burning  beacon  at  night,  or  it 
might  possibly  be  accomplished  by  hoisting  a  kind  of  flag 
in  thfc  daytime. 


204  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Searching  among  the  rocks  for  oysters  and  crabs,  on 
vhich  they  intended  to  make  their  morning  meal,  they 
discovered  a  cave. 

The  aperture  in  the  rock  which  gave  admittance  to  it 
was  very  small. 

It  was  necessary  to  stoop  in  order  to  enter.  The  dimen- 
sions were  not  spacious. 

In  formation  it  was  long  and  narrow,  and,  strange  to 
say,  well  lighted  and  ventilated  by  a  hole  in  the  rock  at 
the  extremity. 

This  formed  a  sort  of  natural  window. 

It  overlooked  the  sea  at  a  height  of  twelve  feet  at  high 
water. 

' '  This  cave  must  be  ours, "  cried  Mole. 

"Let  us  go  and  look  out  at  the  end.  I  can't  see  very 
plainly,  for  the  half  light  dazzles  me,"  replied  Pike. 

They  advanced  together. 

An  extraordinary  surprise  awaited  them. 

Never  had  they  been  more  startled  or  astonished  in 
their  lives. 

The  end  of  the  cave  was  fitted  up  and  furnished  as  a 
bed  and  sitting-room. 

All  the  articles  had,  by  the  look  of  them,  been  taken 
from  a  ship. 

There  was  a  bedstead  and  bedding,  two  deal  tables, 
a  chest  of  drawers,  two  book-cases  filled  with  books, 
cooking  utensils,  china,  knives  and  forks,  a  carpet  and  a 
rug. 

It  was  a  rough  civilization  in  the  wilds  of  Nature. 

There  was  also  a  variety  of  bottles  and  jars,  which,  on 
being  examined,  were  found  to  contain  a  very  fair  kind 
of  wine, 

In  a  corner  were  tobacco  leaves  and  some  old  black 
clay  pipes. 

As  well  as  some  new  ones  made  out  of  corn-cobs. 

A  shutter  of  wood  had  been  arranged  to  fit  in  the 
hole  in  the  rock,  which  served  as  a  window. 

This  would  effectually  keep  out  the  wind  and  rain. 

Against  the  wall  a  cupboard  had  been  made  of  deal 
planks. 

Opening  it,  they  found  some  meat  which  had  been  dried 
in  the  sun. 

It  looked  like  the  flesh  of  deer  or  antelope,  but  tasted 
very  well. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  20-, 

•I 

The  bed  had  all  the  appearances  of  having  been  slept 
in  quite  recently. 

There  were  two  easy-chairs,  and  two  others. 

Into  one  of  these,  Mole  sank  with  a  prolonged  whistle. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  this  ? "  he  enquired. 

"  It  beats  every  thing,"  answered  Pike.  "This  island, 
for  such  I  insist  it  is,  resembles  an  earthly  paradise." 

"But  it  is  not  an  Adamless  Eden." 

' '  No.  You  are  correct  in  that.  This  cave  is  a  small 
howse.  A  man  lives  here.  Perhaps  more  than  one." 

Mr.  Mole  held  up  his  hand  deprecatingly. 

"Heaven  forbid,"  he  said.  "One  is  enough  for  me. 
One  we  might  conquer.  Two  would  make  mincemeat  of 
us." 

"What  is  your  opinion,  truly  and  candidly,  of  what  we 
have  seen  ? " 

' '  This  is  an  island, "  replied  Mole.  ' '  Some  poor  wretch 
like  ourselves  has  been  wrecked  or  cast  away  on  it." 

"Wrecked,  I  should  think,"  said  Pike,  "and  got  these 
things  out  of  what  was  left  of  the  ship  or  washed  ashore." 

"Very  likely." 

"And  we  have  by  accident  penetrated  to  his  cave." 

"Perhaps  we  shall  find  it  to  b.e  the  lair  of  a  wild  man," 
replied  Mole. 

"How  so?" 

"  Prolonged  solitude  and  separation  from  his  kind,  drives 
a  man  mad. " 

"  Heaven  protect  us  !  " 

"Amen  !     So  say  I,"  exclaimed  Mole. 

At  this  moment  they  were  startled  by  the  sound  of  a 
footstep  at  the  entrance  to  the  cave. 

What  could  it  be  ? 

In  a  few  seconds,  a  man  stepped  from  the  darkness  oi 
the  entrance  into  the  light. 

It  was  evidently  the  owner  of  the  cave. 

He  was  a  short,  elderly  man,  with  long  white  hair  and 
beard. 

His  clothes  consisted  simply  of  a  vest  and  pantaloons, 
made  out  of  the  sail  of  a  ship. 

He  had  tied  them  together  by  the  aid  of  some  fibrous 
material. 

In  his  hand  he  held  a  large  watermelon,  which  looked 
ripe  and  luscious. 


2  06  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Directly  he  beheld  the  intruders  on  his  privacy,  he 
uttered  a  loud  cry. 

The  melon  fell  from  his  grasp. 

He  had  a  band  or  girdle  of  leather  round  his  waist. 

In  this  was  a  sailor's  knife. 

Snatching  it  from  its  resting-place,  he  brandished  it  in 
the  air. 

Mole  and  Pike  drew  their  revolvers. 

It  was  an  anxious  moment. 

Would  it  be  best  to  kill  the  old  man,  or  let  him  alone  ? 

That  was  the  question. 

It  could  only  be  answered  by  the  attitude  assumed  to- 
wards them  by  the  old  man  himself. 

Suddenly  he  dropped  his  knife,  and  fell  on  his  knees 
before  them,  holding  up  his  hands. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  OLD  MAN  OF  THE  CAVE. 

LOOKING  reassuringly  at  the  old  man,  of  whose  cave  he 
had  taken  such  unceremonious  possession,  Mr.  Mole  ex- 
claimed— 

"  Do  not  be  afraid  of  us.  We  have  no  desire  to  do  you 
any  harm,  if  you  are  friendly  towards  us." 

"  I  thought  you  were  going  to  kill  me,"  replied  the  cave- 
dweller,  in  English,  with  a  north  country  accent. 

' '  Why  should  we  ?  " 

"  My  cave  and  the  stores  and  the  little  comforts  that  I 
have,  are  worth  coveting ;  but  you  shall  share  all  with 
me." 

i(  That  is  generous.  Get  up.  Shake  hands,  and  tell  us 
who  you  are  and  how  you  came  here, "  said  Mole. 

"  First  of  all,  let  me  know  whom  I  have  the  honour  of 
entertaining." 

"Certainly.  I  am  the  great  Mole,  Professor  of  Oxford 
University — a  man  known  all  over  the  world  for  his  learn- 
ing. This  is  my  friend,  Mr.  Pike,  connected  with  the  de- 
tective department,  Scotland  Yard.  We  were  cast  away 
in  a  small  boat,  and  drifted  to  this  land, " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  207 

The  old  man  poured  them  out  some  wine  of  his  own 
making. 

Then  said  he — 

"My  name  is  Dick  Dormer.  I  was  first  mate  of  the 
Blue  Bell,  of  Sunderland.  We  were  wrecked  on  this  island 
seven  years  ago.  I  alone  was  saved." 

' '  So  long  as  that  !  "  remarked  Mole. 

"  Ay,  it  seems  like  a  lifetime  to  me.  I  had  almost  for- 
gotten my  own  language." 

"  How  big  is  this  island? " 

"I  reckon  it  to  be  six  miles  in  length,  and  about  three 
in  width,"  answered  Dormer. 

' '  Ah,  a  nice  little  property, "  exclaimed  Mole.  ' '  I  claim 
it  as  mine.  The  name  I  gave  it  (Moleland)  it  shall  retain. " 

"  You  are  welcome  to  my  share  of  it,"  said  Dormer. 
"I  only  wish  I  could  get  off  it." 

"  Have  you  friends  in  Sunderland  ?  " 

' '  I  left  a  wife  and  ten  children  there,  when  I  started  on 
that  most  unlucky  voyage. " 

The  man  was  visibly  affected  by  the  recollection  of  his 
distant  family.  A  tear  trembled  in  his  eye. 

"Surely  you  do  not  expect  to  stay  here  for  ever?  "  re- 
marked Pike. 

"Yes,  sir,  I  do.     This  cave  will  be  my  grave." 

"  Don't  say  that ;  you  make  me  shudder.  I'm  not  an 
old  man,  and  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  confined  in  Moleland 
all  my  life." 

"  '  We  are  monarchs  of  all  we  survey,' "  observed  Mole, — 
"  'our  will  there  is  noi*e  to  dispute,'  as  Cowper  sang  of 
Alexander  Selkirk,  the  ;»rototype  of  Robinson  Crusoe. " 

"I  don't  care  about  being  Crusoed.  I  don't  want  too 
much  Crusoe,  but  just  enough." 

' '  How  much  is  that  ?  " 

"  I  could  do  with  a  month — no  more,"  replied  Pike. 

The  old  man  sighed  deeply. 

"At  first, "he  exclaimed,  "I  used  to  cherish  a  hope 
that  a  passing  ship  would  take  me  off. " 

"  Have  you  never  seen  a  vessel? "  asked  Mole. 

' '  Not  one,  sir,  during  the  whole  of  the  seven  years  I 
have  been  marooned  here." 

Mr.  Mole  pricked  up  his  ears. 

He  knew  enough  of  nautical  life  to  be  aware  that  to  be 
marooned,  was  for  a  man  to  be  placed  purposely  on  a 


208  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

desert  island,  as  a  punishment  for  some  crime  he  had 
committed  on  board  his  ship. 

The  officers  and  crew  decline  to  hand  him  over  to  the 
authorities  when  they  reach  port.  They  prefer  to  deal 
summarily  with  him  themselves. 

Consequently,  they  unanimously  sentence  him  to  be 
put  on  the  first  desert  island  they  can  find. 

Here  he  is  left,  to  live  or  die,  as  the  case  may  be. 

It  is  a  solitary  confinement  for  life. 

This  is  what  sailors  call  marooning. 

Mr.  Mole  immediately  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Dick 
Dormer  had  not  told  them  the  whole  truth. 

He  was  keeping  something  back  from  them. 

Not  that  it  mattered  much,  except  that  it  was  as  well  to 
know  the  real  character  of  the  man  in  whose  company 
they  were  all  at  once  accidentally  thrown. 

For  instance,  it  would  not  be  well  to  be  the  guest  of  a 
murderer,  and  living  with  him  in  a  lonely  cave. 

His  murderous  instincts  might  break  out  at  any  moment. 

They  might  fall  victims  to  his  homicidal  mania. 

"Pardon  me,"  exclaimed  Mole,  "but  I  thought  you 
told  me  that  you  were  wrecked  on  this  desert  island  ? " 

"  So  I  was,"  replied  Dormer,  snappishly.  "How  do 
you  think  I  got  here — eh  ?  Swam  it  ?  " 

"Not  exactly,  my  friend;  but  just  now  you  said  you 
were  marooned  here." 

"Did  I?" 

Dormer  appeared  to  be  slightly  confused. 

"Yes.  Now,  you  know,  as  a  sailor,  that  to  be  ma- 
rooned is  to  be  punished  by  being  put  off  your  ship  onto 
a  desert  island." 

"  I  have  heard  of  it." 

"This  is  the  sentence  for  some  dastardly  crime.  It  is 
worse  than  hanging  or  shooting,  because  it  is  a  living 
death." 

"  I  have  found  it  so,"  replied  the  man,  bitterly. 

"  Are  you  concealing  any  thing  from  us? " 

"No,  sir.     Why  should  I?" 

"But  you  said  that  you  were  marooned,  don't  you 
know.  I  can't  forget  that,"  Mole  persisted. 

"I  can't  tell  how  the  word  got  into  my  head.  I  have 
have  been  alone  so  long,  that  I  get  silly  at  times." 

"Have  you  ever  committed  a  crime ? " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  209 

"  Never  ! " 

With  that  explanation  the  professor  was  obliged  to  be 
content,  for  the  present. 

The  old  man  of  the  cave  would  reveal  nothing. 

He  had,  however,  aroused  some  suspicion  in  the  minds 
of  his  new  friends. 

In  future  they  would  be  doubtful  of  him. 

They  noticed  his  features  more  carefully  than  they  had 
hitherto  done. 

The  scrutiny  was  not  at  all  reassuring. 

There  was  a  restless  glare  in  the  eyes,  and  a  dogged, 
vicious  binding  together  of  the  lips. 

Perhaps  they  judged  him  harshly,  but  they  did  not  like 
the  look  of  him. 

"I'm  going  to  tell  you,"  continued  Dormer,  "how  I 
felt  during  the  first  twelve  months  I  was  here." 

"  How  did  you  keep  the  time  ?  "  inquired  Mole, 

"  I  knew  the  day  and  the  month  when  I  set  foot  here. 
I  made  notches  in  a  tree  every  succeeding  day,  taking 
twelve  palm  trees  for  twelve  months." 

"We  may  call  that  a  novel  calendar  up  to  date." 

"It  has  enabled  me  to  count  the  years  of  my  misery. 
But  to  resume.     I  burnt  fires,  and  hung  a  flag  on  a  tree, 
which  I  denuded  of  its  branches,  so  as  to  make  it  resemble 
a  staff;  but  there  was  no  response." 
'  Why  is  that  ? " 

'Simply  because  we  are  out  of  the  trade  track." 
'By  Jingo  !  that's  bad  news,"  cried  Mole. 
'  Could  it  be  worse  ?  "  said  Pike. 

'  No  ships  ever  sail  within  fifty  miles  of  this  desolate 
spot,"  added  Dormer  ;  "  so  there  is  no  hope  for  you  two 
men,  any  more  than  there  is  for  me.  We  are  here  for 
life — d'ye  hear  me  ? — for  life." 

He  grew  very  excited  while  he  was  speaking. 

"Is  that  what  your  messmates  said  to  you  when  they 
put  you  on  the  island  ? "  asked  Mole. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  I  was  wrecked?  "  replied  Dormer. 

"Oh,  yes!  I  had  forgotten  that.  By  the  way,  how 
did  you  get  these  books,  this  furniture,  and  kitchen 
articles  ? " 

"Oh! — hem!"  stammered  Dormer — "they  were 
washed  ashore.  That's  how  I  got  them.  * 

"  You  picked  them  up  on  the  beach?  " 
14 


210  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"Exactly." 

"  How  do  you  live?  "  continued  the  professor. 

Dormer  explained  that  it  wasn't  necessary  in  Moleland 
— he  caught  on  to  the  name  that  had  been  given  it — to 
live  upon  a  vegetarian  diet. 

In  the  first  place,  there  was  a  variety  of  birds,  which 
could  be  knocked  down  by  a  stick  or  a  stone,  without  any 
trouble. 

These,  although  having  a  slightly  fishy  taste,  were  very 
good  eating. 

Fish  of  many  kinds  could  be  caught  by  the  hand  in  the 
holes  in  the  rocks,  at  low  water,  while  turtles  and  turtles' 
eggs  were  also  to  be  had. 

The  eggs  of  the  birds  were  excellent  when  they  could 
be  got. 

Fruit  was  very  plentiful ;  he  had  planted  corn  in 
patches,  which  yielded  him  enough  to  make  his  bread. 

The  corn  he  pounded  in  a  hole  he  had  made  in  the 
rocks,  and  baked  it  in  an  oven  of  his  own  construction. 

His  fuel  consisted  of  dry  grass  and  wood,  and  being 
possessed  of  a  flint  and  steel,  he  could  always  get  a  fire. 

Grapes  he  dried  until  they  were  made  into  raisins,  and 
he  was  able  to  manufacture  as  much  wine  as  he  could 
drink. 

But  one  solace  he  was  deprived  of,  and  that  was  tobacco, 
of  which  not  a  plant  grew  on  the  island. 

"Yes,"  he  repeated,  "I  have  lost  all  hope  here.  I  am, 
and  have  been,  rotting  like  a  dog  in  dough." 

He  moved  to  the  centre  of  the  cave. 

Lifting  up  a  board,  he  revealed  a  hole,  six  feet  long  by 
two  broad,  and  about  two  and  a  half  deep. 

"What  on  earth  is  that  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"That's  my  grave,  gentlemen,"  replied  Dormer. 

"  A  ghastly  idea,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Maybe,"  said  Dormer,  carelessly.  "When  I  feel  my 
end  approaching,  I  shall  lie  down  in  that  hole.  I  dug  it 
out  with  my  own  hands,  only  using  a  chisel  and  a  mallet 
— dug  it  out  of  the  solid  rock  !  " 

"  Let  us  hope  that  you  will  not  occupy  it." 

"  No  hope — no  hope,"  cried  Dormer.  "  Didn't  I  tell  you 
that  I  had  abandoned  hope  for  the  last  six  years?  And  so 
will  you  before  you  have  been  on  this  accursed  island 
long.  However,  you  are  here,  and  I  will  do  all  I  can  to 
make  you  comfortable." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  211 

"  That  is  kind  of  you,"  replied  Mole ;  "but  I  must  tell 
you  that  I  have  every  expectation  of  being  rescued." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?  "  asked  Dormer. 

"Our  ship  is  not  so  very  far  off,  and  my  friend,  Jack 
Harkaway,  who  can  do  what  he  likes  on  board  of  her, 
will  not  leave  these  seas  until  he  finds  us." 

"  How  can  he  tell  in  what  direction  you  have  drifted?" 

"  He  will  sail  here  and  sail  there,  until  he  discovers  our 
whereabouts. " 

"I  trust  you  will  not  be  mistaken,"  answered  Dormer. 
"  Make  yourselves  at  home.  I  will  go  out  and  knock 
down  some  birds,  and  catch  some  fish  for  our  dinner. 
When  I  come  back,  I  will  light  a  fire  outside." 

He  nodded  to  them  and  went  away. 

Pike,  with  the  natural  instinct  of  a  detective,  followed 
him  to  the  outlet. 

He  saw  him  walk  along  the  seashore,  until  he  was  lost 
to  sight  round  a  curve  in  the  rocks. 

When  Pike  came  back  he  looked  very  grave. 

Mole  was  smoking  one  of  the  cigars  he  had  left,  and 
applying  himself  to  the  fermented  grape  juice. 

"  I  distrust  that  man,"  said  Pike. 

"So  do  I,"  replied  Mole. 

"There  is  more  in  him  than  appears  on  the  surface. 
Did  you  notice  how  he  squirmed — that  is  the  only  word 
— when  you  tackled  him  about  the  marooning?" 

"I  did,  and  I  made  a  note  of  it." 

"  You  may  be  certain,  Mr.  Mole,  that  the  man  has  com- 
mitted some  dreadful  crime." 

"  How  does  that  concern  us  ? " 

"He  will  not  scruple  to  commit  another,  not  he.  We 
shall  be  his  next  victims." 

"  Do  you  think  him  mad  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"Going  on  that  way — he's  not  right.  I,  for  one,  will 
not  sleep  in  this  cave  with  him,"  replied  Pike. 

"It  is  very  comfortable.  If  we  sleep  in  our  boat,  or 
under  the  trees,  it  will  be  rather  breezy." 

' '  I  said,  '  with  him. '  We  have  got  the  cave,  and  we 
can  keep  it." 

' '  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  the  man,  Dick  Dormer, 
as  he  calls  himself  ? " 

"  Make  him  a  prisoner." 

"Where  will  you  keep  him  ?"  inquired  Mole. 


212  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  That  is  a  puzzler.     There  is  no  place  to  lock  him  up." 

"You  are  simply  a  superior  sort  of  policeman,"  said 
Mole,  "  and  you  are  carried  away  with  your  police  ideas. 
Let  the  unfortunate  wretch  alone." 

"  But  he  may  kill  us  in  our  sleep,"  urged  the  detective. 

"  It  is  a  dilemma.  I  cannot  see  my  way  out  of  the 
difficulty.  We  cannot  kill  him.  What  are  we  to  do  ? " 

"I  give  it  up." 

They  sat  still,  and  looked  at  one  another  anxiously. 

Each  revolved  different  ideas  in  his  mind. 

"Oh,"  cried  Mole,  at  last,  "I  don't  believe  the  poor 
fellow  will  hurt  us — he  must  be  glad  of  our  company. 
And,  I  say " 

"What,  sir?" 

"Let  us  take  possession  of  his  knife.  There  it  is  on 
the  floor  of  the  cave.  He  has  no  other  weapon,  and  we 
are  fully  armed. " 

"  How  do  you  know  he  has  nothing  else  to  injure  us 
with  ?  "  asked  Pike. 

"Well,  well — that  is  my  idea." 

"A  man  can  be  killed  in  his  sleep  with  a  piece  of  rock, 
or  a  log  of  wood. " 

"  True.  We  must  keep  watch  and  watch,  as  on  board 
ship  ;  and  that  is  a  nice  thing  !  It  may  go  on  for  the  rest 
of  our  lives.  We  have  no  certainty  that  Harkaway 
will  find  us.  Dick  Dormer  is  a  confounded  nuis- 
ance. I  would  to  heaven  that  we  had  never  met  with 
him." 

"  Same  here,"  replied  Pike.  "  I  wish  he'd  have  a  sun- 
stroke, or  burst  a  blood-vessel,  or " 

"Never  wish  anyone  evil,"  Mole  interrupted.  "It 
might  come  home  to  ourselves." 

They  became  silent  for  awhile,  each  one  being  occupied 
with  his  own  thoughts. 

It  was  extremely  difficult  to  arrive  at  a  solution  of  the 
theory. 

"Go  after  him,  and  see  what  he  is  up  to, "said  Mole, 
after  a  time.  "I  am  oppressed  with  a  feeling  that  there 
is  danger  in  the  air. " 

"  Do  you  expect  to  be  blown  up  by  dynamite  ? "  asked 
Pike. 

"That's  a  foolish  idea — the  old  man's  got  no  explosives  ; 
but  I  could  see  that  he  wants  to  get  rid  of  us.  He  resents 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


213 


our  intrusion  upon  his  island,  and  our  taking  possession 
of  his  cave." 

"You're  right.  I  can  see  passion  and  resentment  in 
every  lineament  of  his  face." 

"  As  you  agree  with  me  in  this,  perhaps  you  will  be 
good  enough  to  go  and  look  after  the  man.  Find  out 
something  about  him  ;  knock  him  on  the  head ;  chuck 
him  into  the  sea  ;  feed  him  to  a  shark ;  sweep  the  floor 
with  him — do  what  you  like,  only  get  rid  of  him.  A  man 
who  has  been  marooned  by  his  shipmates  is  always 
dangerous. " 

"  You  still  believe  that  he  has  committed  a  crime?  " 

"  I'm  sure  of  it.  He  will  do  us  injury,  if  we  don't  keep 
our  eyes  '  peeled,'  as  the  Yankees  say." 

"We  can't  kill  the  poor  old  beggar  in  cold  blood,"  said 
Pike. 

"  He  would  not  mind  treating  us  in  that  way,  and  as 
my  life  isn't  insured,  I  want  to  take  precautions." 

"  Well,  I  will  tell  you  what  can  be  done." 

"  Name  it,"  said  Mole. 

"  Let  us  make  him  a  captive,  and  put  him  in  our  boat, 
with  a  month's  supply  of  grub  and  fresh  water." 

' '  What's  the  good  of  that  ? " 

"A  lot  of  good.     We  shall  get  rid  of  him." 

"My  dear  fellow,"  replied  the  professor,  patronisingly, 
as  he  helped  himself  to  another  glass  of  the  island  wine, 
"you  are  what  vulgar  little  boys  would  call  a  '  mug.'" 

"  How  do  you  make  that  out  ?  " 

"Put  the  man  in  the  boat,  start  him  on  his  voyage  to 
nowhere,  imagine  him  pursuing  his  wild  career  over  the 
stormy  ocean,  and  what  will  be  the  result  ? " 

' '  Perhaps  he  will  make  some  other  land — get  picked 
up  by  a  ship,  or  perish  in  a  storm." 

' '  Not  he.  The  man's  too  smart  for  that  He  is  a  crim- 
inal. Does  he  want  to  go  back  to  England  ?  No.  It  is 
all  humbug  about  his  wife  and  children.  The  old  rascal 
knows  he  would  be  found  out  by  some  of  his  shipmates, 
and  put  on  his  trial. " 

' '  What  are  you  driving  at,  Mr.  Mole  ?  " 

"  I  tell  you,  the  old  man  loves  this  island.  If  we  put 
him  in  the  boat,  he  will  tack  and  come  back  to  it." 

' '  I'll  threaten  to  shoot  him  on  sight,  if  he  does,"  said 
Pike. 


214  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"That  menace  might  have  some  effect  on  him, "re- 
plied Mole,  after  some  consideration. 

"Try  my  scheme." 

' '  Very  well.     Let  us  start  out  at  once  and  capture  him. " 

"Agreed,"  cried  Pike. 

"  Treat  him  like  a  wild  beast." 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  the  detective.  "  He  is  not  much 
better,  but  we  will  act  towards  him  as  I  do  with  a  suspect- 
ed criminal:  be  firm,  but  not  cruel." 

"You  do  me  an  injustice,"  said  Mole.  "I  am  as  much 
a  humanitarian  as  you.  Do  you  imagine  for  a  moment 
that  a  man  in  my  position,  of  my  social  station,  of  my  edu- 
cation and  world-wide  reputation,  could?" 

"  Do  you  want  to  make  a  speech  ?  " 

"  I  am  known  from  the  Malvern  Hills  to  the  Andes, 
from  China  to  Peru,  and 

"Is  it  you  talking,  or  this  island  wine? " 

"Sir,"  replied  Mole,  "your  trade  is  that  of  a  thief- 
catcher.  Manners  you  have  none." 

"  How  about  your  own " 

"I  am  an  accomplished  gentleman,  brought  up  in  the 
school  of  Lord  Chesterfield,  and  polished  off  by  such  mem- 
bers of  fashion  as  Beau  Brummel  and  Count  d'Orsay." 

"Oh,  here's  a  hall,  if  you  want  to  spout,"  cried  Pike. 

He  wa*  entirely  out  of  patience  with  the  garrulous  pro- 
fessor, who,  whenever  he  began  to  talk,  never  knew  when 
to  stop. 

Taking  hold  of  him  by  the  arm,  in  a  policeman-like  kind 
of  way,  as  he  would  have  done  had  he,  in  his  professional 
capacity,  captured  a  forger,  he  led  him  out  of  the  cave. 

When  they  got  near  the  entrance,  Mole,  who  was  rather 
top-heavy,  kicked  against  a  small  canvas  bag,  which  was 
lying  against  the  cave  wall. 

It  broke,  and  at  least  a  hundred  bright  glittering  sover- 
eigns rolled  out  into  the  sunshine,  which  streamed  into 
and  illuminated  this  portion  of  the  cave. 

"  Money  !     Gold,  by  Jingo  !  "  Pike  exclaimed. 

"So  it  is,"  answered  Mole  ;  "  and  I  can  see  some  more 
bags  close  by — about  a  dozen.  The  old  man  has  a  treas- 
ure here." 

"The  mystery  deepens,"  replied  Pike  ;  "  he's  an  artful 
old  card.  It  would  take  a  clever  man  to  fathom  him." 

"What  are  we?     Don't  call  us  duffers." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  215 

"  Certainly  not.  I  expect  we  shall  be  his  match  in  the 
long  run  ;  but  you  had  better  keep  away  from  that  grape 
juice.  It  makes  you  unsteady." 

Mr.  Mole  regarded  him  severely. 

"  Pike,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  remonstrance,  "  that's  a 
very  unkind  and  uncalled-for  remark," 

"Beg  pardon,  I'm  sure." 

"I  don't  like  it.  I  like  a  drop,  I'll  admit  that.  I  love 
a  social  glass,  no  matter  what  the  stuff  is." 

"  You're  not  particular — say,  from  turps  to  sour  cider." 

"Don't  be  absurd.  What  I  want  to  ask  you  is,  did  you 
ever  see  me  the  worse  for  liquor  ?  " 

"Did  I— what  ?" 

Mr.  Mole  repeated  his  question. 

He  followed  it  up  with  this  remark — 

"Do  not  tell  a  falsehood  to  please  me,  Pike.  Tell 
the  plain,  straightforward,  unvarnished  truth.  Did  you 
ever " 

"  Oh,  give  us  a  rest,  and  come  along,"  interrupted  the 
detective. 

He  put  a  little  gentle  pressure  on  the  professor,  and  got 
him  outside  the  cave. 

Nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  old  man. 

They  stood  fora  minute,  looking  over  the  pleasing  land- 
scape which  was  spread  out  in  front  of  them. 

This  island  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  was  a  veritable  paradise. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  rushing  noise  over  their  heads. 

Pike  seized  Mole  by  the  arm,  and  drew  him  on  one  side. 

The  next  instant,  a  huge  piece  of  rock  fell  in  the  very 
spot  where  they  had  been  standing. 

"  What  did  I  say  ?"  cried  Mole.      "Treachery  !  " 

"  No  doubt  of  that,"  replied  Pike. 

They  turned  round  and  looked  up.  On  the  top  of  the 
cliff  they  saw  the  figure  of  Dick  Dormer. 

The  height  was  not  very  great — possibly  twenty-five 
feet. 

When  he  saw  that  he  was  discovered,  he  moved  as  if  to 
hide  himself. 

This  intention  was  frustrated  by  Pike. 

The  latter  presented  a  pistol  at  him. 

"What  did  you  cast  that  rock  down  for?"  asked  the 
detective. 

"It  was  an  accident  ;  it  slipped,"  replied  Dormer. 


2 1 6  JACK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"That  won't  do  for  me.     Come  down  here,  or  I  fire." 

"You  will  kill  me.  Have  some  mercy  on  a  poor  help- 
less old  man." 

' '  You  are  not  so  helpless  as  you  want  to  make  out.  We 
will  not  harm  you,  though.  You  can  come  down  in 
safety. " 

"Will  you  swear  that  ?"  asked  Dormer. 

Pike  gave  him  the  required  assurance,  and  he  com- 
menced the  descent  by  a  narrow  path. 

Pike  and  Mole  watched  the  owner  of  the  cave  carefully 
as  he  came  down  from  the  rocky  height. 

He  was  covered  by  Pike's  pistol  all  the  time. 

At  the  least  attempt  to  evade  them,  he  would  have  been 
fired  at. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  stood  before  them. 

"Old  man,"  exclaimed  Pike,  sternly,  "you  have  de- 
ceived us.  It  was  your  proposal  to  go  and  cater  for  us  in  the 
dinner  line,  as  well  as  you  could.  Instead  of  that,  you 
climb  up  to  the  top  of  the  cave,  lie  in  ambush,  and 
when  you  see  us  come  out,  hurl  a  huge  rock  at  our 
heads." 

"  It  is  a  mercy  we  were  not  crushed  as  flat  as  pancakes," 
put  in  Mr.  Mole. 

' '  Mercy,  sir  !  I  call  it  a  miracle — a  direct  intervention 
of  Providence  on  our  behalf." 

"  It  was  an  attempt  to  murder." 

"According  to  the  laws  of  civilised  nations,  what  is 
that  crime  punishable  by  ?  "  asked  Pike. 

"Death,"  replied  Mole. 

"Right.  And  I  think  we  shall  be  justified  in  becoming 
the  executioners  of  this  man." 

"For  the  sake  of  self-preservation,  we  shall,"  said 
Mole. 

"  What  shall  it  be  ?" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"The  cord  or  the  bullet  ? "  answered  Pike. 

' '  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon.  I  did  not  understand.  I  am 
a  little  dull  of  comprehension  to-day.  The  bullet  is  what 
I  should  recommend.  The  rope  is  too  much  trouble." 

"Decision  in  favour  of  shooting,  instead  of  hanging." 

"  Exactly.  Fire  away.  I  am  rather  sensitive,  and  will 
turn  my  head  in  another  direction." 

"As  you  please." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  217 

During  this  conversation,  Dick  Dormer  had  made  no 
observation. 

The  play  of  his  features,  however,  was  worth  studying. 

He  was  not  calm  and  impassive,  but  the  prey  of  extreme 
nervous  anxiety. 

His  eyes  blinked,  his  nostrils  were  dilated,  and  the 
corners  of  his  mouth  twitched. 

"  Hold  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "do  not  kill  me.  I  am  afraid 
to  die.  The  voice  of  the  storm  wind  has  hissed  in  my 
ears  that  the  demons  are  waiting  for  me.  Spare  my  life. 
The  falling  of  the  rock  was  an  accident.  Spare  me.  You 
may  want  mercy  yourself  some  day.  Besides,  this  is  my 
island  ;  why  should  you  come  here  and  molest  me? " 

Pike  turned  to  Mole. 

He  was  desirous  of  having  a  brief  conversation  with  him 
respecting  the  old  man's  appeal. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  he  asked.  "It  certainly  was 
the  old  man's  island  before  we  came  here  ;  he  discovered 
it,  or  someone  discovered  it  for  him.  I  don't  exactly  like 
to  kill  him — nor  would  I,  if  I  could  make  sure  that  he 
would  leave  us  alone." 

"  He  is  treacherous,"  replied  Mole — "his  acts  prove 
it ;  but  we  will  give  him  another  chance,  I  think,  on 
certain  conditions." 

"If  you  say  so " 

"I  am  not  a  hard  man.  I  believe  in  the  eminently 
Christian  doctrine  of  living  and  let  live." 

"  What  are  the  conditions  ?  "  asked  Pike. 

"Let  the  man  inform  us  where  he  procured  the  gold  he 
has  in  his  cave  ;  let  him  inform  us  also  how  he  came  to 
be  placed  on  this  island— the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth  ;  thirdly,  let  him  swear,  by  all  he 
holds  holy,  that  he  will  not  make  any  further  attempts  on 
our  lives.  If  he  does  this,  we  will  spare  him.  That  is 
what  I  propose." 

"Can  we  trust  him?  "  asked  Pike,  dubiously.  "  I  do 
not  want  to  be  killed,  for  I  have  a  firm  conviction  that 
we  shall  be  taken  off  the  island  before  long  by  some 
passing  ship." 

"Besides  that,  my  friend,"  answered  Mole,  smiling 
slightly,  "if  we  became  tired  of  the  monotony  of  life  in 
Moleland,  we  could  easily  kill  ourselves.  Would  it  not  be 
more  satisfactory  ?  " 


2 1 8  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"Certainly  it  would.  I  will  put  up  my  revolver.  We 
will  give  the  old  man  another  chance." 

"  Yes,"  cried  Mole  ;  "he  shall  have  it.  No  one  shall 
say  that  I  was  unjust,  cruel,  or  hasty." 

Pike  turned  towards  Dick  Dormer. 

"  Have  you  heard  what  was  said  ? "  he  asked.  "If  so, 
and  you  understand  it,  I  shall  be  glad  of  your  answer." 

Dick  Dormer  stretched  out  his  hand.  An  expression  of 
gratitude  came  over  his  face,  but  it  was  doubtful  if  it  was 
genuine. 

The  old  man  had  shown  himself  to  be  as  crafty  as  a 
fox. 

Mole's  clemency,  after  all,  might  be  a  mistake. 

"Allow  me  to  grasp  your  hand,"  he  exclaimed.  "I  am 
deeply  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness,  and  will  do  all 
in  my  power  to  show  you  that  I  deserve  it." 

"Do  you  accept  our  terms ?  "  demanded  Pike. 

"I  do.  Firstly,  I  swear  not  to  harm  a  hair  of  your 
heads,  as  I  hope  to  be  forgiven  for  my  sins."  . 

"That  is  pretty  good  for  a  start.     Go  on." 

"You  shall  know  all,"  continued  Dick  Dormer.  "I 
have  kept  something  back,  and  will  tell  you  my  history. " 

"  What  about  the  gold  ? " 

"You  shall  be  made  acquainted  with  with  my  source 
of  supply.  Some  gold  you  saw  in  my  cave,  but  there  is 
much  more  where  that  came  from — enough  to  make  the 
three  of  us  rich  for  life. " 

"  Would  you  like  us  to  go  back  to  the  cave  ?  " 

"No.  Walk  along  the  island  with  me.  We  will  talk 
as  we  go." 

"As  you  like ;  I'm  agreeable,"  said  Pike. 

They  started,  walking  side  by  side,  in  a  north-easterly 
direction. 

The  old  man  was  in  the  middle.  Mr.  Mole  and  Pike 
waited  for  him  to  speak. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  219 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  TREASURE — THE  CONFESSION — TREACHERY. 

SOME  minutes  elapsed  before  Dick  Dormer  opened  his 
mouth  again. 

He  appeared  to  be  going  back  into  the  past,  to  collect 
his  thoughts. 

"Two  years  ago,"  he  said,  at  length,  "there  was  a 
dreadful  storm.  It  can  storm,  too,  in  these  latitudes  when 
it  wants  to,  at  certain  times  of  the  year,  especially  about 
the  equinox,  in  the  autumn  and  the  spring.  A  ship  was 
thrown  on  the  island,  and  beached  high  and  dry.  Not 
one  of  the  crew  survived — all  were  drowned.  I  found  the 
vessel  embedded  in  the  sand  up  to  her  bulwarks.  Many 
things  I  got  out  of  her.  The  bags  of  gold  you  saw  came 
from  her.  There  are  a  hundred  or  more  there  now.  I 
will  show  you  the  ship.  You  can  help  yourselves.  What 
is  the  use  of  gold  to  me — or,  for  the  matter  of  that  to 
you  ?  " 

".It's  a  fortune  !  "  cried  Pike. 

"  How  much  do  you  suppose  there  is  in  pounds  ster- 
ling ? "  Mr.  Mole  inquired. 

"A  hundred  thousand  pounds — English,"  replied  Dick 
Dormer — "or  thereabouts.  It  was  a  London  vessel, 
engaged  in  the  China  trade,  as  far  as  I  could  make  out" 

"Cargo?" 

"Silk  and  tea.  You  can  have  your  fill  of  that,  as  well 
as  the  gold  ;  but  where  are  the  women  to  wear  the  silks, 
or  the  dressmakers  ? " 

"We  will  have  the  gold,  though.  It  will  come  in 
handy  when  we  are  taken  off  the  island. " 

' '  When  you  are  ?  " 

"What  do  you  mean  by  throwing  cold  water  on  our 
hopes  like  that  ? " 

"There  is  no  hope.  I  told  you  so  before,"  exclaimed 
the  old  man.  ' '  Do  you  know  the  prospect  I  have  dreaded 
for  some  time?" 

"  How  should  I  ?  "  replied  Mole. 


220  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  A  ND  HIS  SON 'S 

"This  island  is,  I  am  persuaded,  of  volcanic  origin. 
In  the  centre  there  is  a  spot  where  foul  gases  and  sul- 
phurous vapours  arise.  It  was  upheaved  in  some  great 
convulsion  of  Nature,  and  will  subside  in  the  same  way 
before  long." 

"  Have  you  had  an  earthquake  ?  " 

"  Several  small  tremblings.  They  are  of  constant  oc- 
currence. Sometimes  as  I  am  walking  about,  the  earth 
trembles,  and  I  am  thrown  violently  to  the  ground." 

"  That  is  a  danger  I  did  not  suspect,"  said  Pike. 

"  I  can  quite  believe  it,"  replied  Mole.  "And  after  this 
notification,  the  best  thing  we  can  do  will  be  to  fill  our 
boat  with  gold,  and  such  provisions  as  we  can  get, 
and  chance  our  fate  on  the  bosom  of  the  mighty  deep." 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you,"  answered  Pike  ;  "  although, 
on  consideration,  is  not  the  peril  of  the  sea  as  bad  as  that 
of  the  land  ?  " 

"No,  I  think  not.  Moleland  is  not  such  a  desirable 
acquisition  as  I  first  thought  it.  If  I  go  into  the  real 
estate  business,  I  will  locate  elsewhere." 

While  they  were  talking,  they  had  made  considerable 
progress,  and  on  rounding  a  point,  they  came  in  full  view 
of  the  ship  that  Dick  Dormer  had  spoken  of. 

It  was,  as  he  had  stated,  embedded  in  the  sand,  and 
they  easily  stepped  on  board  of  her. 

The  old  man  had  carefully,  time  after  time,  scraped 
away  the  sand  from  the  companion-way. 

He  conducted  them  below. 

In  the  captain's  cabin,  he  showed  them  three  average- 
sized  boxes,  which  were  filled  with  bags  of  gold. 

Some  of  the  pieces  were  American  eagles,  but  the 
majority  were  sovereigns  of  the  British  Mint. 

Mole  and  Pike  gazed  upon  them  with  admiration,  not 
entirely  unmingled  with  avarice. 

"Something  worth  having  there,"  said  Pike. 

"Half  for  you,  and  half  for  me,"  replied  the  professor. 
' '  This  is  a  veritable  treasure  island.  We  must  transport 
it  to  the  boat.  It  will  do  instead  of  the  ballast. " 

"It  won't  stop  here  long." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it.  I  shall  buy  a  landed  estate  in  Eng- 
land, and  be  a  country  gentleman.  No  more  of  Jack 
Harkaway's  adventures  for  me. " 

"Had  enough  of  it,  eh ?  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  22\ 

"My  dear  sir,"  answered  Mole,  "I  am  like  Ulysses: 
I  have  had  my  Odyssey.  I  may  add  that  I  resemble 
Jason,  who,  in  the  dim  past,  went  sailing  with  his  Argo- 
nauts in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece." 

"You  have  found  it." 

"Yes  ;  and  you  sha'n't  fleece  me." 

' '  We'll  have  a  fair  divide.  To-morrow,  we'll  carry  the 
gold  to  the  boat.  No  more  island  for  me." 

"  I  echo  your  sentiments." 

Dick  Dormer  went  to  a  locker,  which  he  opened. 

It  had  a  dozen  shelves,  which  were  crowded  with  bot- 
tles of  spirits,  cordials  and  wines.  Some  were  empty,  but 
several  had  not  been  touched. 

"Help  yourselves,  gentlemen,"  he  said.  "I  am  not 
much  of  a  drinker.  What  I  have  touched  has  been  taken 
when  I  have  had  the  fever  and  ague,  which  is  prevalent 
here  in  the  spring  and  the  fall." 

Mr.  Mole  smacked  his  lips. 

"Ha,  ha!  this  is  good,"  he  exclaimed.  "My  friend, 
you  have  redeemed  yourself. " 

He  advanced  to  the  rows  of  bottles,  and  examined  their 
labels. 

"Port ! — too  warm  for  that,"  he  continued.  "  Hock  ! — 
rather  light.  Cognac  brandy  ! — that's  better." 

Taking  up  a  bottle,  he  dexterously  knocked  the  neck 
off  with  a  piece  of  wood. 

'  A  practiced  hand,  sir,"  remarked  Pike. 
'  What's  that  to  do  with  you  ?  "  asked  Mole. 
'Nothing  at  all." 

'  So  I  should  think.     Mind  your  own  business." 
'That  is  a  thing  I  never  could  do.     I  have  always 
been  engaged  on  other  people's. " 

"This  bottle  is  mine.  If  you  want  anything,  help 
yourself. " 

The  professor  put  the  broken  bottle  to  his  lips,  and  in- 
dulged in  a  deep  draught. 

It  took  effect  on  him  immediately,  for  it  was  strong  and 
old. 

Staggering,  he  reeled  against  the  wall,  and  slid  down 
gently  on  the  floor. 

But  instinctively  he  retained  his  hold  upon  the  bottle. 

"Most  ex — extraordinary — think,"  he  said — "some- 
thing wrong  with  the  ship,  I  guess." 


222  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Your  legs  have  given  way,"  replied  Pike. 

"No.     Ship  gave  a  lurch.     Sea  on.     I  know." 

"It  is  high  and  dry." 

"You're  dry.  Don't  tell — hie — lies,  sir;  they  don't 
become  a  man  of  your  years.  I  say  it's — hie — ship. 
Storm  raging.  No  matter.  Batten  down.  Close — hie 
— hatches." 

Mr.  Mole  seemed  to  be  very  comfortable,  for  he  stretched 
out  his  legs,  and  leaned  his  back  against  the  side. 

"  I  could  stay  here  till  morning  doth  appear,"  he  mut- 
tered. 

Pike  thought  this  was  a  good  opportunity  to  get  the 
old  man's  confession  out  of  him. 

He  was  very  curious  to  know  his  history. 

Accordingly,  he  pressed  him  to  comply  with  the  promise 
he  had  given. 

In  a  shamefaced  way,  Dick  Dormer  complied. 

It  was  a  regrettable  page  in  his  life,  and  although  he 
might  shed  many  tears,  he  could  not  blot  it  out. 

What  he  had  at  first  said  about  having  a  wife  and  chil- 
dren at  Sunderland  was  not  true. 

He  had  been  in  love  with  a  girl  in  that  town,  and  so 
had  the  captain  under  whom  he  sailed. 

They  were  rivals,  in  fact. 

During  the  voyage,  constant  disputes  arose  between 
them. 

At  last,  Dormer  came  behind  the  captain,  and  treach- 
erously stabbed  him  in  the  back  with  a  knife. 

He  fell  to  rise  no  more.  The  dark  deed  had  been  wit- 
nessed by  two  sailors. 

They  informed  the  rest  of  the  crew. 

The  murderer  was  made  prisoner,  and  tried  by  his  mates, 
who,  of  course,  found  him  guilty  on  the  evidence. 

At  first  they  were  inclined  to  sentence  him  to  death. 

He  had  been  a  favorite  \vith  the  men. 

This  fact  alone  saved  his  life. 

The  sentence  was  that  he  be  marooned  on  the  first 
•desert  island  they  came  to. 

"That's  how  I  came  here,  sir,"  he  concluded;  "and 
here  I've  got  to  stay,  by  the  looks  of  it." 

Whether  Mole  heard  this  confession  or  not,  is  doubtful. 

His  head  was  drooping  on  one  side,  and  he  was  snor- 
ing loudly. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE   WORLD.  223 

The  potency  of  the  brandy  had  brought  on  a  heavy 
sleep. 

"You  look  upon  yourself  as  king  of  the  island,"  said 
Pike. 

"I  was,  till  you  came  here,"  was  the  rather  surly  re- 
ply. "  Why  should  you  interfere  with  my  little  comforts, 
and  disturb  the  even  tenor  of  my  way  ?  " 

"We  are  going  to  leave  you.  Did  you  not  hear  us  say 
that  we  would  take  the  gold  in  our  boat  ?  " 

"It  is  my  gold,  not  yours.  Why  should  you  take  it 
away  from  me  ?  If  a  ship  should  ever  take  me  off,  why 
should  I  not  have  it?  " 

"Because  we  want  it." 

"You  have  no  right  to  take  it,"  cried  Dick  Dormer,  get- 
ting angry. 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  he  could  soon  work  himself  into 
a  passion. 

"We  are  the  strongest,  because  we  are  two  to  one,"  re- 
plied Pike  ;  "and  we  are  armed." 

Dormer  pointed  contemptuously  at  Mole. 

"Do  you  call  him  a  man?"  he  asked.  "Not  now. 
At  present,  you  are  only  one." 

"I'm  a  better  man  than  you,  so  you'd  best  hold  your 
tongue,  or  I  shall  give  you  a  hiding. " 

"Beware  !  I  have  killed  one  man  in  my  time,  and  I 
can  do  another,"  cried  the  old  man. 

"Is  that  a  threat?" 

"  Construe  it  in  any  way  you  like." 

Pike's  reply  was  to  throw  out  his  fist. 

Before  the  old  man  could  protect  himself,  he  was 
knocked  down. 

A  cry  like  that  of  a  wild  beast  broke  from  him. 

He  had  fallen  on  the  top  of  the  professor. 

Though  the  impact  was  heavy,  it  only  elicited  a  grunt 
from  the  somnolent  gentleman. 

In  Mr.  Mole's  belt  was  his  six-chambered  revolver. 

The  old  man  no  sooner  saw  it  than  he  made  a  grab  at  it. 

Quick  as  lightning,  he  regained  his  feet,  and  pointed 
the  weapon  at  the  detective. 

The  situation  was  as  effective  as  it  was  dramatic. 

"  Hold  your  hands  up,  or  I  fire,"  he  shouted. 

Taken  at  a  disadvantage,  Pike  was  constrained  to  do 
so. 


1 2  4  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Dormer  took  a  step  towards  him,  and  deprived  him  of 
his  knife  and  pistol. 

He  was  now  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the  old  islander. 

"Down  on  your  knees,"  yelled  Dormer. 

With  a  wry  face,  Pike  obeyed  the  order. 

"Beg  for  mercy.     Beg-,  I  tell  you,"  he  went  on. 

"  Mercy,"  repeated  Pike. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  It  makes  me  laugh,"  said  Dormer.  "  Who 
is  the  best  man  now  ?  You  were  going  to  rule  and  rob 
me  because  you  were  strong.  It  is  my  turn  now." 

"Spare  our  lives,"  replied  Pike. 

"Beg  again — beg  !     I  like  to  hear  it." 

"Spare  me,"  reiterated  Pike. 

"That's  glorious.  Well,  I  shall  let  you  live,  because  I 
want  two  slaves  to  wait  on  me  and  to  beat  them.  I  like 
to  beat  men.  It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  me  to  break 'a 
stick  over  the  back  of  that  old  brandy  cask  lying  there." 

He  indicated  Mole  with  his  hand. 

For  the  moment  he  was  off  his  guard. 

His  forgetfulness  was  fatal  to  his  chance  of  being  supev 
rior  to  the  others. 

Pike  saw  his  opportunity. 

He  sprang  up  and  again  struck  him,  this  time  so  vio- 
lently, that  he  was  stunned. 

His  head  fell  against  the  side  of  the  ship. 

Pike  instantly  possessed  himself  of  the  weapons  Dormer 
had  deprived  them  of. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  he  cried  ;  "  that's  the  cleverest  bit  of  busi- 
ness I  ever  did  in  my  life." 

For  a  brief  space,  he  thought  the  situation  out  in  his 
mind. 

It  was,  and  would  be,  dangerous  to  live  on  the  island 
with  such  a  man  as  Dick  Dormer. 

An  antagonism  had  already  arisen  between  them. 

Once  he  had  endeavored  to  kill  them  with  the  rock, 
and  having  deprived  them  of  their  arms,  he  expressed  his 
intention  of  making  them  his  slaves. 

There  was  no  telling  where  the  ill-feeling  might  end. 

In  a  fit  of  mad  passion  he  might  slay  them,  as  he  had 
killed  his  rival,  the  captain. 

"  He  must  die,"  muttered  Pike,  grimly. 

It  was  a  fearful  necessity,  but  Pike  put  all  sentimental 
considerations  on  one  side. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  22 i 

0 

He  regarded  Dick  Dormer  as  one  does  a  rabid  dog,  or 
a  venomous  reptile. 

Self-preservation  demanded  that  he  should  be  rendered 
harmless. 

This  could  not  be  done  unless  he  was  put  out  of  the 
way. 

Raising  his  pistol,  he  put  it  to  the  head  of  the  insensible 
man  and  fired. 

The  result  was  immediate. 

Dick  Dormer's  limbs  straightened  out,  and  he  was  a 
corpse  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it. 

Pike  lifted  the  body  in  his  arms,  and  cast  it  over  the 
side  into  the  wavelets,  which,  as  the  tide  came  in,  were 
laving  the  bows  of  the  wrecked  ship. 

It  was  gradually,  but  surely  sucked  out  to  sea. 

Having  accomplished  this  deed,  which  was  very  dis- 
tasteful to  him,  Pike  turned  his  attention  to  Mole. 

He  knew  that  if  he  wanted  to  awaken  him,  gentle  mea- 
sures were  of  no  use. 

You  could  not  call  him  as  you  would  a  sleeping  man. 

It  required  heroic  measures  to  rouse  the  professor  when 
under  the  influence  of  liquor. 

To  begin  with,  he  gave  him  half-a-dozen  rough  kicks 
in  the  sides. 

These  he  called  rib-roasters,  and  after  them  he  rubbed 
Mole's  ears  till  he  made  them  bleed. 

Then  he  put  a  pinch  of  snuff  up  his  nose,  with  the  effect 
of  making  him  sneeze  so  violently  that  he  bumped  his 
head  several  times  against  the  floor. 

"What  the  deuce  is  the  matter?"  demanded  Mole. 
' '  Ship  on  fire  ?  If  so,  put  it  out. " 

"Wake  up,  I  want  you,"  replied  Pike. 

' '  Why  didn't  you  say  so  at  first  ?  Oh,  dear,  how  my 
sides  ache  !  Oh,  lor',  oh  !  " 

He  did  not  know  that  he  was  indebted  to  Pike's  rib- 
roasting  for  this  feeling. 

Getting  up,  he  took  a  refresher,  as  he  termed  it,  out  of 
the  bottle. 

"Why  is  that  like  the  Athenian  goddess  of  wisdom?" 
he  asked. 

"Give  it  up,"  replied  Pike. 

"Because   it   is   Minerva — my   nerver.     See?     Twig? 
Ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  the  professor. 
15 


226  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  You  wouldn't  laugh  if  you  knew  what  has  been  going 
on  while  you  slept, "  said  Pike. 

"Any  thing  wrong?  " 

"We  have  narrowly  escaped  a  great  danger." 

"You  don't  say  so?  Where's  old  Rocks ?  What  d'ye 
call  him  ? — old  Blunderbuss  of  the  Cave." 

"Gone  to  kingdom  come — food  for  fishes.  I  had  to 
shoot  him  through  the  head." 

Mr.  Mole  was  fairly  astounded. 

"Well,  I  am  astonished!"  he  gasped.  "Poor  old 
beggar  !  what  did  he  do  ?  " 

Pike  informed  him  of  what  had  passed. 

On  reflection,  Mole  declared  that,  in  his  opinion,  he  had 
acted  rightly,  and  that  the  solitary  murderer  deserved  his 
fate. 

Pike  pointed  to  the  body,  which,  floating  out  with  the 
tide,  bobbed  up  and  down  like  a  cork. 

As  he  did  so,  he  scanned  the  horizon. 

On  the  verge,  his  quick  eye  discovered  a  sail. 

He  grew  greatly  excited. 

'  By  heaven,  Mole,"  he  shouted,  "  there  is  a  ship  !  " 
'Just  what  I  anticipated  all  along,"  replied  Mole. 
'We  must  make  signals." 

'Let  us  take  her  rig  in  first.  Perhaps  she's  a  pirate," 
sa  d  Mole,  cautiously. 

'  It  may  be  so,  but  I  hope  not." 
'  What  shall  we  do  if  it  is  a  Chinese  junk  ?  " 
'Hide  in  the  old  man's  cave,"  replied  Pike. 
'Good  advice." 

They  waited  anxiously  for  the  ship  to  come  nearer. 

To  their  great  joy  it  was  not  a  pirate  but  a  full-rigged 
American  ship.  Her  build  seemed  to  be  familiar  to  them. 

So  indeed  it  was. 

The  ship  bearing  down  upon  them  was  no  other  than 
that  from  which  they  had  been  separated. 

Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friends  were  on  board. 

They  found  their  supply  of  fresh  water  getting  low,  so 
they  made  for  the  first  land  they  saw. 

This  happened  to  be  the  desert  island. 

The  feelings  of  the  castaways  can  be  better  imagined 
than  described. 

Pike  took  off  his  shirt,  tied  it  to  a  pole,  and  waved  it  in 
the  air  as  a  signal. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  227 

It  was  seen. 

The  ship  anchored  in  a  land-locked  bay,  and  a  boat 
was  lowered. 

They  saw  Harkaway  and  Harvey  step  into  it. 

Unable  to  restrain  themselves,  Mr.  Mole  and  Pike  ran 
to  the  beach  to  welcome  the  old  friends  they  once  fancied 
they  had  lost  for  ever. 

The  meeting  was  a  very  cordial  one. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  listened  to  the  adventures  of 
the  castaways  with  great  interest. 

The  sailors  took  off  a  supply  of  water. 

Pike  accompanied  them  with  a  quantity  of  gold,  which 
he  was  anxious  to  secure. 

He  left  Mr.  Mole  to  show  Harkaway  and  Harvey  the 
scenery,  they  having  arranged  to  leave  the  island  when 
the  boat  came  back  for  them,  in  about  an  hour's  time. 

This  event  never  happened. 

A  terrible  calamity  was  in  store  for  them. 

It  was  heralded  by  a  hissing  and  boiling  of  the  sea,  and 
a  soughing  of  the  wind  through  the  branches  of  the  trees. 

To  those  who  understood  the  signs  of  the  climate  in 
which  they  were,  it  was  clear  that  a  tropical  storm  was 
coming. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

A      SUDDEN      STORM. 

"I  SAY,"  exclaimed  Jack,  scanning  the  horizen  nar- 
rowly, "we  are  going  to  have  the  deuce  and  all  of  a 
storm." 

"A  tempest,  I  should  imagine,"  replied  Harvey.  "It 
is  getting  dark  although  it  is  only  midday." 

"The  sun  is  obscure,"  continued  Jack.  "Are  there 
any  volcanoes  in  these  parts  ?  " 

He  addressed  this  remark  to  the  professor. 

"The  old  man  declared  that  there  used  to  be  occa- 
sional flare-ups,  if  I  may  use  the  term,"  was  the  answer. 

"How  should  we  feel  if  this  island  was  swept  by  a 
volcanic  wave,  eh  ?  "  asked  Jack. 


way 


"Rather  damp  and  uncomfortable,   I  expect,  Harka- 
ly  ;  but  if  you  want  shelter,  I  can  afford  it  you." 


228  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Where?" 

"In  the  old  man's  cave.  It's  a  first-rate  place  to  rest 
or  hide  in,  and  I  may  mention  one  thing." 

"What  is  that?" 

"There  is  a  store  of  good  liquor — wines  and  spirits — in 
the  cave." 

"Of  course,  that  just  suits  you,"  laughed  Jack.  "How 
did  the  old  man  get  such  things  ?  " 

"Out  of  the  wreck.  Being  very  abstemious,  they  have 
lasted  him  a  long  time." 

"  That  is  more  than  they  will  you." 

"Well,  I  am  going  on  board  the  ship  when  the  boat 
comes  back ;  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  have  much  more  need 
of  the  bottles,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"  They  will  do  for  the  next  fellow  who  happens  to  be 
cast  away  here. " 

"There  are  worse  places  in  which  to  exist  than  this. 
The  old  josser  who  met  his  fate  to-day  was  very  com- 
fortable in  his  den. " 

"  How  did  you  like  Crusoeing  it  ? "  Jack  inquired. 

"Fairly  well.  It  was  the  uncertainty  of  getting  off 
that  worried  me." 

"  You  knew  we  should  try  and  find  you,"  observed 
Harvey. 

"  I  was  not  so  sure  of  that.     It  is  a  selfish  world." 

"  You  ungrateful  old  duffer." 

'•  Call  me  no  names,  but  follow  me  to  the  den.  The 
air  is  growing  denser,"  replied  Mole. 

"So  it  is,  by  Jove  !  "  said  Jack. 

"I  can  hardly  breathe,"  answered  Harvey.  "Don't 
you  think  there  is  a  smell  of  sulphur  ? " 

"  I  don't  think — I'm  positive  of  it." 

"  Look  out  for  eruptions,  then." 

The  earth  at  that  moment  trembled  slightly. 

All  looked  at  one  another  in  consternation. 

Was  this  the  forerunner  of  an  earthquake  ? 

Again  the  sensation  was  felt,  this  time  with  more  force 
than  at  first. 

The  seismic  disturbance  was  travelling  from  west  to 
east. 

A  minute  passed  slowly. 

No  further  trembling  was  experienced. 

The  distant  rumbling  of  thunder  could  be  heard. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  229 

Out  at  sea,  the  sky  was  as  black  as  night. 

The  boat  in  which  Pike  had  gone  with  the  sailors,  who 
were  returning  with  the  water,  was  close  to  the  ship. 

Those  on  the  island  watched  her  progress  with  in- 
terest. 

It  wras  a  highly  dangerous  time. 

With  a  pleasure  they  could  not  conceal  from  one  an- 
other, they  saw  the  boat  reach  the  ship,  and  those  in  it 
climb  up  the  chains. 

"Safe  !  "  cried  Jack. 

"We  can  not  expect  them  to  come  for  us  till  the  storm 
is  over,"  said  Harvey. 

"It  is  not  likely  !  " 

During  this  conversation,  they  had  neared  the  cave. 

Some  heavy  drops  of  rain  began  to  fall. 

There  was  evidently  going  to  be  a  deluge  before  long. 

They  quickened  their  steps,  and  reached  the  shelter  of 
the  cave  ere  the  storm  burst. 

Through  the  window,  made  by  the  old  man,  they  could 
look  out  seaward. 

The  waves  were  rising  and  swelling. 

Suddenly  a  most  unusual  phenomenon  took  place. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  shore,  a  huge  wave 
arose. 

It  appeared  to  be  a  mighty  volcanic  upheaval. 

For  a  few  moments  it  was  doubtful  in  what  direction  it 
was  going. 

The  vast  wave  did  not  long  remain  stationary,  however. 

Jack,  Harvey;  and  Mr.  Mole  were  standing  together, 
and  gazing  awestruck  at  this  freak  of  Nature. 

If  it  raced  landward,  the  island  would  be  submerged, 
and  great  destruction  done.  The  trees  and  fruit  would 
be  swept  away. 

If  the  three  were  not  drowned,  what  would  be  their 
fate  ?  The  rocks  might  tumble  upon  and  crush  them. 

At  this  dreadful  crisis,  vivid  lightning  darted  from  the 
sky,  illuminating  the  darkened  ocean. 

The  thunder  crashed  with  a  deafening  roar. 

Then  the  wave  dashed  out  to  sea,  taking  the  direction 
of  the  ship. 

On  board  were  Emily  and  Hilda. 

The  hearts  of  their  husbands  sank  within  them,  for  the 
girls  seemed  to  be  in  imminent  danger  of  death. 


230  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Onward  with  a  fierce,  irresistible  fury  went  the  wave. 

A  cloud,  black  as  ink,  came  down,  enveloping  the 
vessel  and  hiding  it  from  sight. 

"  Heaven  help  them  !  "  groaned  Jack. 

This  prayer  was  faintly  echoed  by  Harvey. 

For  fully  ten  minutes  the  storm  lasted,  with  supreme 
violence. 

Then  the  thunder  rolled  away  and  died  off  in  the 
distance,  the  lightning  ceased  playing,  the  darkness  lifted, 
and  the  sun  shone  brightly  as  was  its  wont  in  that 
delightful  but  treacherous  climate. 

Nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  ship. 

Had  it  gone  down  or  weathered  the  storm  ? 

The  wave  might  have  passed  over  it,  carrying  it  along 
in  its  wake. 

If  it  remained  afloat,  was  it  a  disabled  log,  drifting  at 
the  mercy  of  the  tide  and  wind  ? 

Who  could  answer  these  questions  ? 

Jack  and  Harvey  were  deeply  depressed,  but  Mr.  Mole 
took  a  cheerful  view  of  the  situation. 

"Don't  give  way,  boys,"  he  exclaimed.  "If  the  ship 
had  been  driven  on  the  land,  all  hands  must  have  per- 
ished. " 

"I  fear,"  replied  Harkaway,  " that  we  shall  never  seo 
our  loved  ones  again." 

"How  could  the  vessel  survive  the  shock  of  that 
wave  ? "  asked  Harvey. 

"Depend  upon  it,  she  will  turn  up  before  many  days," 
Mole  continued. 

"What  makes  you  think  so  ? " 

"  She  was  close  reefed.  We  have  always  found  her 
seaworthy,  and  the  captain  knows  his  business  up  to  the 
handle." 

"  Heaven  grant  it  may  prove  so  !  " 

"  That  fellow  Pike  was  lucky  to  get  on  board  before  the 
storm  burst  and  the  wave  came  rushing  after  him.  There 
are  volcanoes  under  the  sea,  and  that  sheet  of  water  was 
the  result  of  an  eruption.  Well,  we  must  hope  for  the 
best.  We're  all  right.  Have  a  drink  ?  " 

The  offer  was  accepted,  and,  presently,  when  they 
were  in  a  calmer  state  of  mind,  they  discussed  the  event 
which1  had  just  taken  place. 

There  was  no  proof  that  the  vessel  was  lost 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


231 


It  was  just  as  likely  that  she  had  been  driven  out  to  sea, 
badly  injured,  as  that  she  had  foundered. 

They  left  it  an  open  question. 

What  was  plain  to  them  was  this — they  were  confined 
on  the  island  without  any  chance,  visible  to  either,  of 
getting  off. 

"This  is  indeed  a  change  in  a  few  short  hours,"  re- 
marked Jack.  "  It  seems  as  if  some  demon  was  putting 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  our  finding  Hunston  and  my 
boy. " 

"Do  not  despair.  Have  a  drop  of  this  old  rum,"  an- 
swered Mole. 

"I  would  rather  take  something  to  eat,"  replied  Jack  ; 
"  we  had  not  dined  before  we  left  the  ship." 

"  Will  you  eat  fruit,  of  which  there  is  abundance,"  asked 
the  professor,  "or  do  you  fancy  shellfish,  or  will  you 
rather  cook  some  sea-birds,  which  can  be  knocked  down 
with  a  stick  ?  " 

"Fruit  will  do.  It  will  be  a  change  after  the  salt  junk 
we  have  had  lately." 

Mr.  Mole  quitted  the  cave,  and  was  absent  for  some 
minutes,  when  he  came  back  laden  with  several  varieties 
of  fruit. 

The  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  in  a  gloomy,  half- 
hearted manner. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  were  continually  looking  over 
the  sea  for  some  sign  of  the  missing  vessel.  . 

But  not  the  slightest  sign  could  they  discern  of  her. 

The  sun  sank  lower  and  lower,  until  it  dropped  into 
the  sea. 

Darkness  fell  upon  the  restless  ocean  and  the  land 
alike. 

Accommodating  themselves  as  well  as  they  could  in 
the  cave,  they  forgot  their  troubles  in  sleep. 

When  they  awoke  in  the  morning,  the  wind  was  blow- 
ing strongly  inshore. 

The  tide  dashed  in  large,  foam-laden  breakers  upon  the 
sandy  shore. 

Each  one  looked  out  eagerly  for  wreckage,  but  not 
the  vestige  of  a  spar  or  even  a  water-cask  was  to  be 
seen. 

This  fact  raised  their  drooping  spirits  considerably. 

If  the  crowning  misfortune   they  dreaded  had  befallen 


232  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SCAT'S 

the   ship,  some  portion  of  her  equipment   would  surely 
have  been  washed  on  the  beach  during  the  night. 

There  was  hope  for  the  safety  of  their  relatives  and 
friends  yet ;  also  was  there  hope  for  themselves,  for  if  the 
ship  was  not  lost,  those  on  board  would  return  to  the 
island  and  take  them  off. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE  WRECK  OF  A  CHINESE  JUNK — AN  OLD  FACE — BETRAYED  BY  A 
VILLAIN. 

THREE  days  elapsed,  passing  with  dreary  monotony. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  the  three  castaways 
were  confined  to  the  cave. 

It  was  blowing  hard  from  the  southwest,  and  heavy 
rain  was  falling. 

Jack  had  found  some  tobacco  plants  on  the  island. 

The  leaves  he  dried  in  the  sun,  and  crushing  them  up 
for  his  pipe,  found  them  a  great  comfort. 

He  had  been  smoking  placidly. 

Harvey  was  ill  with  a  touch  of  ague. 

Mole  was  lying  on  his  back,  snoring  loudly,  under  the 
influence  of  old  Jamaica. 

Going  to  the  aperture  which  served  as  a  window, 
Harkaway  looked  out  on  the  stormy  ocean. 

To  his  surprise  he  beheld  a  Chinese  junk  dismasted, 
driving  before  the  wind. 

Those  on  board  had  lost  all  control  over  it. 

It  was  literally  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves. 

The  distance  between  it  and  the  shore  was  only  a  short 
one,  being  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

The  junk  was  a  large  one,  and  had  evidently  en- 
countered severe  weather. 

Its  deck  was  crowded  with,  at  least,  thirty  Chinamen, 
who  had  a  piratical  appearance. 

Pistols  and  long  knives  were  stuck  in  their  belts. 

A  white  man  stood  in  the  bows,  watching  the  low- 
lying  shore,  calculating  how  long  it  would  be  before  the 
junk  struck. 

He  was  the  only  one  of  European  race  that  could  be 
discovered  on  board. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  233 

The  point  to  which  the  ill-fated  junk  was  being  driven 
was  not  above  half-a-mile  or  three  furlongs  from  the 
cave. 

It  was  useless  to  speak  to  Mole,  so  Jack  addressed  him- 
self to  Harvey. 

"Dick,"  he  said,  "  here's  a  Chinese  junk — or,  rather,  the 
wreck  of  one — being  blown  ashore." 

With  difficulty,  Harvey  got  up,  his  legs  being  weak, 
and  his  head  as  heavy  as  lead. 

"We  met  more  than  a  dozen,"  replied  he,  "  not  fifty 
miles  from  this  island — pirates,  our  captain  called  them — 
and,  crowding  all  sail,  we  gave  them  a  wide  berth." 

"  It  has  been  roughly  handled  in  a  gale." 

"  Easy  enough  to  see  that.     The  junk  is  dismasted." 

'•'Keep  close,"  added  Jack  ;  "they  must  not  see  us. 
Chinese  pirates  show  no  mercy  to  Europeans." 

"  Nor  to  Americans  either.  We  are  all  '  foreign  devils ' 
in  their  eyes." 

"Confound  them!  Why  could  they  not  keep  away 
from  here  ? " 

"Perhaps  they  will  all  be  drowned." 

"Good  job  if  they  are,"  growled  Jack,  between  his 
teeth. 

"  Do  you  see  that  white  man  in  the  forecastle  ?  "  asked 
Harvey. 

"  Yes.     I  spotted  him  just  now." 

"  He  has  got  hold  of  a  hen-coop  or  something.  It  will 
be  a  cold  day  if  he  is  left." 

"Several  of  the  Chinese  have  pieces  of  wood  in  their 
hands.  It  will  be  a  swim  for  life." 

As  he  spoke,  Jack  again  narrowly  scrutinised  the  junk 
that  was  fast  nearing  destruction, 

"Dick,"  he  continued,  "I  fancy  I  have  seen  that  white 
man's  face  before.  He  is  looking  this  way." 

The  rain  ceased  falling  and  the  sun  came  out,  which 
rendered  the  person's  countenance  strikingly  visible. 

"  I  have  an  idea  of  the  same  sort,"  answered  Harvey  ,• 
"but  then,  going  about  the  world  as  we  do,  we  see  so 
many  people,  that  it  is  impossible  to  remember  and  par- 
ticularise them  all."  n 

"  Did  not  we  see  him  in  Singapore,  after  schooldays? 
asked  Jack. 

"I  really  can  not  recollect." 


234  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  A  ND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  He  reminds  me  very  much  of  a  fellow  calling  him- 
self Peter  Punchard,  a  native  of  Portsmouth.  If  so,  he 
was  first  mate  of  a  merchantman,  and  a  fast  friend  of  our 
enemy,  Hunston. " 

"Ah,"  said  Harvey,  "I  call  the  man  to  mind  now. 
There  were  strange  tales  told  about  him  at  the  club. " 

"Yes.  It  was  rumoured  that  he  was  in  league  with 
Chinese  pirates,  having  betrayed  more  than  one  ship 
into  their  hands." 

"  Precisely  so." 

"If  that  is  the  case,  and  it  should  turn  out  to  be  this 
man,  we  shall  have  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout." 

"  He  isn't  saved  yet.  None  of  them  are.  The  crash  is 
coming,  though.  See  !  The  ship  will  strike  shortly." 

They  both  strained  their  eyes  to  watch  the  imminent 
catastrophe. 

The  wind  and  tide  bore  the  helpless  ship  steadily  on- 
wards. 

It  was  a  moment  of  the  most  intense  excitement. 

At  length  the  junk  went  on  some  surf-washed  rocks, 
which  were  only  a  foot  or  two  below  the  surface  at  low 
water. 

She  keeled  over,  and  sank  with  a  list  to  leeward. 

Instantly  the  sea  was  filled  with  struggling  wretches, 
swimming  for  their  lives. 

The  dark  fins  of  more  than  one  shark  were  to  be  seen. 

Loud  shrieks  rent  the  air,  as  several  of  the  Chinese 
were  seized  by  the  voracious  monsters  of  the  deep,  and 
dragged  under. 

The  water  was  rapidly  stained  red  with  the  blood  of 
the  victims. 

At  least  a  score  of  the  Chinamen,  however,  contrived 
to  reach  the  shore  unharmed. 

It  was  also  noticed  that  the  man  they  supposed  to  be 
Peter  Punchard,  once  of  Singapore,  effected  a  landing. 

He  was  none  the  worse  for  his  sudden  immersion. 

The  Chinese,  with  characteristic  stolidity,  did  not  seem 
greatly  concerned  at  the  misfortune  which  had  overtaken 
them. 

Some  basked  in  the  sun  to  dry  their  clothes  ;  others 
looked  curiously  at  the  wreck,  and  a  few  strolled  about, 
gathering  fruit  and  cocoanuts,  which  they  retired  under 
some  palm-trees  to  eat. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  235 

The  white  man  remained  in  conversation  with  a  China- 
man, who  was  a  head  taller  than  the  rest. 

He  had  a  commanding  presence,  and  appeared  to  be 
the  chief. 

After  a  time  the  white  quitted  his  companion,  and 
walked  inland,  as  if  to  explore  his  new  abode. 

No  doubt  he  wanted  to  ascertain  if  it  was  inhabited, 
and  what  were  its  capacities  for  sustaining  life. 

When  he  was  gone,  the  chief  gave  some  orders  in  a 
loud  voice  to  his  followers. 

They  instantly  drew  their  long  knives  from  their 
belts. 

As  is  usual  on  the  islands  off  the  China  coast,  there 
was  a  multitude  of  bamboos. 

A  number  of  these  they  cut  down,  driving  them  into 
the  earth,  close  together,  under  the  palm-trees. 

They  were  at  least  ten  feet  high. 

Soon  a  strong  double  stockade  was  erected  of  a  cir- 
cular shape. 

It  had  a  narrow  aperture  for  a  doorway,  and  was  open 
at  the  top. 

This  was  strong  enough  to  protect  them  from  the  attack 
of  an  enemy. 

It  also  formed  a  shelter  from  wild  beasts,  should  there 
be  any. 

This  precautionary  measure  being  taken,  the  Chinese 
fell  into  their  former  listless  attitude. 

The  junk  quickly  began  to  break  up. 

Portions  of  wreckage  and  cargo  were  washed  ashore 
by  the  waves. 

These  were  eagerly  seized,  and  conveyed  to  the  stock- 
ade. 

Some  chests  of  tea  and  a  crate  of  crockery,  teapots, 
cups,  and  plates,  seemed  to  afford  them  special  satisfac- 
tion. 

"They  are  smart  and  handy  fellows,"  remarked  Har- 
vey. 

"Jolly  lazy  though,"  replied  Jack.  * 

"That  is  constitutional  and  climatic.  Look  at  the 
chief  !  He  looks  a  regular  swagger  kind  of  Mandarin 
chap." 

' '  It  did  not  take  them  long  to  knock  up  that  stockade. 
Splendid  idea." 


236  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

' '  I  wonder  if  they  will  be  friendly  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 
"What  do  you  think?" 

"That  is  what  1  am  going  to  find  out." 

"  How  ?     Be  careful.     You  are  always  foolhardy." 

"  It  is  my  adventurous  disposition,  over  which  I  have 
no  control." 

"True  enough.  You  wouldn't  be  Jack  Harkaway, 
were  it  not  so  ;  but  pray  exercise  judgment." 

"  I  fully  intend  to  do  so." 

"What  is  your  plan  ?  "  continued  Harvey. 

"To  ascertain  whether  they  are  friends  or  enemies. 
We  can't  live  on  the  island  long  without  meeting  them." 

"That's  so." 

"I  shall  take  a  trot  inland  to  have  a  talk  with  the  man 
we  fancy  is  Peter  Punchard,"  said  Jack. 

"We  may  be  mistaken,  and  probably  are." 

"In  an  hour  I  will  find  out.  Look  after  Mole.  If  he 
wakes  up,  keep  him  in  the  cave." 

"All  right." 

Harvey  did  not  attempt  to  disuade  Jack  from  under- 
taking the  enterprise. 

He  knew  from  experience  that  it  would  be  useless  to 
do  so. 

It  was  impossible  to  restrain  him  when  he  had  once 
made  up  his  mind  to  do  a  thing. 

Taking  his  pistol,  Jack  left  the  cave,  and  followed  in 
the  track  of  the  white  man. 

He  was  a  strongly-built,  middle-aged  person,  with 
dark  hair,  a  long,  black  beard,  and  swarthy  complex- 
ion. 

His  face  was  rugged,  weather-beaten,  and  full  of  a  dare- 
devil, do-as-I-please-and-ask-nobody  kind  of  expression. 

Walking  quickly  under  the  fruit  trees,  and  over  the  pro- 
fusely flower-laden  earth,  which  was  like  a  variegated 
pasture,  Jack  soon  came  up  with  the  person  of  whom  he 
was  in  search. 

They  were  a  couple  of  miles,  if  not  more,  from  the  sea. 

Therefore,  they  were  quite  alone,  and  free  from  inter- 
ruption. 

The  man  was  seated  under  a  tree,  cutting  up  pine- 
apples with  his  knife,  and  eating  them  with  evident  relish. 

"Hullo!     Good-morning,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

The  man  started,  and  grasped  the  butt  of  his  pistol. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD, 


237 


In  a  moment  Jack  had  covered  him  with  his  own 
weapon,  which  he  hastily  snatched  from  his  belt. 

"Who,  in  Satan's  name,  are  you?"  growled  the  man, 
eyeing  him  with  curiosity. 

Jack  fancied  that  a  look  of  recognition  came  over  his 
face. 

It  was  followed  by  a  smile  of  triumph,  and  then  he  as- 
sumed a  grave,  stolid  look. 

"I  was  just  going  to  ask  you  the  same  question,"  re- 
plied Jack  ;  "  for  it  struck  me  that  I  had  seen  you  some- 
where before." 

"Whereabouts,  boss?     I  can't  place  you." 

"  In  Singapore.     Are  you  Peter  Punchard?  " 

The  man  laughed  loudly. 

"You  are  wrong,"  he  said.  "Never  heard  the  name 
before.  Never  was  in  Singapore  in  my  life.  I'm  Bill 
Driver,  of  Leeds,  England,  able  seaman,  before  the  mast. " 

"Are  you  sure?  " 

"Wish  I  may  die  if  I  ain't.  My  ship,  the  Fanny,  of 
Leeds,  was  going  to  Hong  Kong  with  a  mixed  cargo. 
We  got  caught  in  a  tempest,  took  to  the  boats  ;  all  in 
my  boat  died,  except  me.  I  was  picked  up  by  a  friendly 
Chinese  junk.  Another  storm  drove  us  on  this  darned 
old  island. " 

' '  I  saw  the  wreck. " 

"Infernal  bad  luck,  wasn't  it?  Junk  all  smashed  up, 
one-third  of  the  crew  gobbled  up  by  sharks.  Captain  of 
junk — Hi  Lung,  nice  fellow,  good  as  gold — saved." 

Bill  Driver,  as  he  called  himself,  spoke  with  such  sin- 
cerity, that  Harkaway  was  fain  to  believe  him. 

He  returned  his  pistol  to  his  belt. 

"Well,"  added  Driver,  "burn  my  toes  if  I  ain't  glad 
to  see  a  white  man,  like  myself !  Been  here  long  ?  " 

' '  A  few  days  only. " 

"  Many  of  you  saved  from  your  wreck  ? " 

He  took  it  for  granted  that  Jack  had  been  wrecked  the 
same  as  himself. 

"Two,  besides  myself." 

"What  kind  of  location  is  it — savages,  cannibals? 
Ugh  !  Makes  you  shiver  to  think  of  'em." 

"  Desert  island,"  answered  Jack.  "  No  wild  animals, 
plenty  of  fruit,  shell  fish,  and  birds." 

"That's  good.     Guess  we're  stranded  for  a  consider- 


338  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

able  spell.  Out  of  the  track  of  ships.  Never  seen  this 
island  on  the  chart." 

"I  hope  to  get  off  it,  some  day." 

"Same  here,  guv'nor,"  replied  Bill  Driver.  "  Life  here 
would  soon  become  monotonous.  Let's  make  friends. 
Pal  up  !  I  like  your  style  and  face.  Shake  hands  1 " 

Harkaway  hesitated  a  moment. 

His  heart  told  him  that  the  man  was  genuine,  but  his 
instinct,  which  very  seldom  led  him  wrong,  bade  him  be 
cautious. 

"  Tip  us  your  fin.  Come  on.  We're  comrades  in  mis- 
fortune, and  down  on  our  luck,"  added  Driver. 

Jack  did  so. 

He  held  out  his  hand  in  a  friendly  manner. 

Driver  got  up  from  his  sitting  position,  to  take  it  osten- 
sibly. 

But  instead  of  doing  so,  he  drew  his  pistol,  clubbed  it, 
and  struck  Jack  on  the  head. 

The  treacherous  blow  stunned  him. 

He  fell  full  length,  insensible,  at  his  assailant's  feet. 

The  blood  trickled  slowly  from  a  scalp  wound. 

"Ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  Driver,  "  I've  done  the  trick  easier 
than  I  thought  I  should.  Lor' !  what  a  fool  he  was,  to  be 
sure  ! " 

Taking  a  small  coil  of  rope  from  his  pocket,  he  bound 
Harkaway's  hands  behind  him,  and  removed  his  weapon. 

Then  he  sat  down  under  the  tree  again,  and,  lighting 
his  pipe,  waited,  with  the  utmost  coolness,  for  him  to  re- 
cover his  senses. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE   WOLF  IN  SHEEP'S  CLOTHING — HARKAWAY  IS    MADE  PRISONER 
A   TRIUMPH    FOR    HUNSTON. 

IT  was  clear  to  the  meanest  comprehension,  from  his 
actions  and  his  manner,  that  the  old  sailor  was  a  wolf  in 
sheep's  clothing. 

He  had  grossly  deceived  Harkaway  and  taken  a  base 
advantage  of  his  credulity. 

The  blow  on  the  head  which  the  latter  had  received 
was  productive  only  of  a  brief  unconsciousness. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


239 


Jack's  head  had  been  knocked  about  a  good  deal  in  the 
course  of  his  adventurous  life,  young  though  he  was. 

Yet  it  was  none  the  worse  for  it. 

If  the  skull  was  thick,  the  brain  inside  was  active  and 
clear  enough,  in  spite  of  all. 

When  he  came  to  himself,  which  he  did  in  five  minutes, 
he  was  a  little  confused. 

Feeling  sore  and  wet  from  a  slight  flow  of  blood  at  the 
back  of  the  head,  he  tried  to  put  his  hand  up. 

This  he  was  unable  to  do. 

It  dawned  upon  him  in  a  moment  that  he  had  been  as- 
saulted and  bound  by  the  sailor,  who  called  himself  Bill 
Driver. 

Harvey's  suspicions  and  his  own  doubts  respecting* 
this  man  came  back  to  him  in  a  vivid  manner. 

"What  cheer,  my  hearty  ?  "  cried  the  sailor. 

"Perhaps  you  will  explain  the  meaning  of  this  ?  "  said 
Jack,  regarding  him  with  a  hostile  look. 

' '  That's  easy  enough,  if  you  find  yourself  well  enough 
to  listen." 

"  Oh,  I'm  all  right !  That  tap  on  the  head  you  gave 
me  did  not  hurt  more  than  a  mosquito  bite." 

"  Didn't  it,  really!  Would  you  like  another?"  asked 
the  man,  sarcastically. 

"No,  thank  you.  I'm  not  naturally  of  a  greedy  dis- 
position." 

"You  can  have  'em  wholesale  or  retail.  Just  as  you 
like.  Order  a  gross,  if  you  feel  you  could  do  with  "em." 

"  Enough's  as  good  as  a  feast !  " 

' '  Nothing  like  moderation  in  every  thing,  eh  ?  Afraid 
you  might  get  an  overdose  ?  " 

"Mind  you  don't,  some  day,"  replied  Jack,  warningly. 

The  sailor  laughed,  and  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully. 

He  seemed  to  be  enjoying  a  good  joke. 

"Wouldn't  you  just  revel  in  warming  me  up  a  bit? 
Couldn't  you  pile  it  on,  and  lay  it  on  thick  as  molasses  ?  " 
he  said. 

"You  want  all  the  say  to  yourself,  don't  you-?     Jack 

enquired. 

"I'm  rather  of  a  talkative  disposition.     You  want  to 

know  why  I  floored  you  and  tied  your  hands  ? " 
"That  is  what  I  am  yearning  to  get  at." 
"First  of  all,  I'm  not  Bill  Driver,"  replied  the  man. 


2  40  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Who  the  deuce  are  you,  then  ? " 

"Peter  Punchard,  at  your  service.  Your  old  acquaint- 
ance of  Singapore,  first  mate  of  the  Rattlesnake,  trading 
between  the  Straits  and  China." 

"  I  thought  so,  all  along.     Why  did  you  deny  it?  " 

"To  throw  you  off  your  guard,"  said  Peter  Punchard. 

' '  What  harm  have  I  ever  done  you  ?  and  what  good  will 
come  to  you  by  making  me  a  prisoner  ?  " 

"You  are  the  well-known  Jack  Harkaway. " 

"  I  am  not  ashamed  to  admit  it,"  answered  Jack.  "  In 
fact,  I  am  rather  proud  of  the  distinction  than  otherwise, 
for  there  is  not  one  act  in  my  life  that  I  am  ashamed  of." 

"  Nobody  said  there  was.  The  general  opinion  is  that 
you  are  a  fine  kind  of  man,  but  I  must  tell  you  that  I  am 
a  sworn  friend  of  your  life-long  enemy,  Hunston,  and, 
in  my  opinion,  Hunston  is  a  better  man  than  you." 

"  I  can  see  now  why  you  attacked  me,  fool  that  I  was  ! 
Keep  your  opinion  of  Hunston.  You  are  a  couple  of 
frauds  and  rascals,  banded  together." 

' '  Be  civil,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you  ! "  cried 
Punchard,  in  a  threatening  manner. 

"I  will  try  to  keep  my  tongue  quiet,  but  it  is  a  hard 
task." 

"Hunston  is  my  boss,  not  you;  and,  in  the  position 
you  are,  I  should  think  it  is  a  case  of  the  least  said,  the 
soonest  mended." 

Jack  bit  his  lips. 

He  was  in  the  man's  power,  and  could  see  that,  in 
common  parlance,  it  was  wise  to  sing  small. 

"Where  is  Hunston  now  ?  "  he  enquired. 

"In  China.  His  exact  whereabouts  I  shall  not  tell 
you,"  rejoined  Peter  Punchard. 

' '  Is  my  boy,  young  Jack,  with  him  ?  " 

"  You  may  pump  me  as  long  as  you  please ;  but  I  shall 
answer  no  questions.  Those  are  my  orders." 

"  Oh,  you  have  received  orders  from  your  chief  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  have,  straight!  Hunston  has  offered  five 
hundred  pounds  to  anyone  who  will  capture  you,  and 
bring  you,  alive,  to  him.  That  is  why  Hi  Lung,  the 
captain  of  the  Yanktze  Kiang  junk  which  was  wrecked 
just  now,  below  there  " — he  jerked  his  hand  towards  the 
beach — "  and  I  resolved  to  go  in  search  of  you." 

"Then  you  have  been  looking  for  my  ship?" 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  241 

"For  some  time  past.  I  little  thought,  when  we  were 
cast  away  on  this  blooming  old  island,  that  I  should  have 
the  luck  to  fall  in  with  you." 

' '  What  good  will  it  do  you  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"I've  got  you,  that's  one  satisfaction.  We  are  in  an 
awkward  hole,  I'll  allow  ;  but  we  shall  get  taken  off  in 
time,  you  bet." 

"Say,  perhaps.     We  may  be  here  for  life." 

"I  don't  think  it,"  replied  Punchard.  "Some  of  the 
junks  will  be  putting  in  here  for  water,  and  I  shall  keep  a 
beacon  fire  burning,  on  an  eminence,  night  and  day. 
There's  plenty  of  wood." 

Jack  saw  that  there  was  no  escape  at  present  from  the 
dilemma  that  the  cunning  of  Punchard  had  placed  him 
in. 

He  determined  to  make  the  best  of  it. 

Hunston,  when  despatching  his  agents  in  search  of  him, 
had  given  them  instructions  to  bring  him,  if  caught,  to 
his  place  of  concealment,  alive,  wherever  it  might  be. 

There  was  a  grain  of  comfort  in  that. 

His  life  was  in  no  danger. 

"I  suppose,  Mr.  Punchard,"  he  said,  "that  if  I  give 
my  parole — " 

' '  What's  that ?  "  interrupted  Peter.  "It  ain't  English, 
nor  yet  Chinese." 

"It's  French.  Means  word  of  honour — not  to  escape. 
If  I  give  you  this,  and  as  you  have,  I  see,  disarmed  me, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  keeping  this  bit  of  cord  round  my 
wrists. " 

Peter  was  paring  and  slicing  another  pineapple  he  had 
cut  from  a  bed  growing  wild  at  his  feet. 

"  Everybody  says  you're  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Harkaway," 
he  replied. 

"  I  hope  you  and  all  will  ever  find  me  so." 

' '  I  don't  mind  taking  your  pay — role — what  d'ye  call  it  > 
But  if  you  were  to  play  any  hanky-panky  tricks  with  me, 
I'd  shoot  you  dead,  so  help  me  !  " 

"No  danger  of  that.  If  I  promise  you  that  I  will  not 
attempt  to  escape,  you  need  not  be  afraid." 

"Give  the  word,  then." 

"  I  do.     I  am  your  prisoner  on  parole." 

"Very  good,"  said  Peter  Punchard. 

He  got  up  and  cut  the  cord  with  his  knife. 
16 


242  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Jack  stretched  nimself,  rubbed  his  head,  and  coolly 
asked  for  a  slice  of  pineappe,  which  was  given  him. 

That  he  would  be  conducted  to  Hi  Lung's  camp,  and 
detained  there,  he  had  no  doubt. 

Even  if  his  ship  had  escaped  the  volcanic  wave,  and 
came  back  to  the  island,  his  chance  of  freedom  was 
very  remote. 

Harvey  and  Mole  would  endeavour  to  find  out  what 
had  become  of  him. 

Yet  to  depend  on  their  aid  was  to  lean  on  a  broken 
reed. 

They  were  in  great  danger  of  being  discovered,  and 
getting  killed  or  captured  themselves. 

"  Now,"  said  Punchard,  "  we  will  go  to  our  camp.  I 
must  introduce  you  to  Hi  Lung,  the  prince  of  pirates." 

"  Is  he  a  nice  fellow  ?  "  asked  Jack  ;  "  but  I  need  not 
put  the  question,  for  I  never  met  a  good  Chinaman  in  my 
life  yet." 

"  He  is  morose,  sullen,  stern,  smokes  and  chews  opium 
to  excess.  The  gloomy  fit  is  always  on  him,"  was  the 
reply. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  The  beggar  has  cut  so  many  throats  in  his  time,  that 
he  is  haunted  by  ghosts." 

"  Remorse,  eh  ?  " 

"Spell  it  with  a  big  R  !  It  is  remorse  of  the  worst  kind. 
He's  always  thinking  something  dreadful's  going  to 
happen  ;  and  this  wreck  has  stirred  him  up  awful." 

"Is  he  melancholy  mad ? " 

"  I  s'pose  that's  what  you  call  it  in  doctors'  language. 
He  started  me  out  to  explore  the  island,  because  he 
thought  it  was  full  of  cannibals,  wild  animals,  and  poison- 
ous snakes." 

"There  is  nothing  of  either  kind,"  replied  Jack. 

"He  won't  believe  it  when  I  tell  him.  Hi  Lung  has 
fully  made  up  his  heathen  mind  that  he  is  going  to  leave 
his  bones  here,  when  he  goes  over  to  the  spirit  world." 

"  A  Chinese  hates  to  be  buried  out  of  his  own  country." 

' '  I  know  it,"  said  Punchard.  "When  they  die  abroad, 
their  friends  always  take  their  bones  to  China  for  sepulture, 
if  they  can  afford  it. 

"Talking  of  friends,"  continued  Punchard,  "reminds 
me  that  you  are  not  alone  here.  Who  are  your  people?  " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  243- 

"That  I  cannot  reveal  to  you,"  answered  Jack. 

Peter  Pun  chard  laughed  lightly. 

" Oh,  that  don't  matter  !  "  he  replied.  "Didn't  you  say 
there  were  two  along  of  you  ?  I'll  find  them,  and  the 
Chinamen  will  make  mince-meat  of  them.  We  have  to 
take  you  alive.  The  order  is  to  kill  all  that  belong  to 
you,  root  and  branch." 

' '  Women  as  well  as  men  ? "  queried  Jack. 

"Ay.  No  mercy,  no  quarter  to  any  of  Harkaway's 
division  ! " 

"What  a  brute  that  fellow  Hunston  is." 

"He's  going  to  torture  you  to  death.  Kill  you  by 
inches  and  half-inches.  Chinese  style,  up  to  date  !  " 

"  When  he  gets  a  safe  hold  of  me,"  Jack  said,  with  a 
smile. 

"Oh,  come  now,  captain!"  Punchard  cried,  "that's 
good.  Is  it  likely  you  will  ever  get  out  of  my  clutches? 
and,  you  know,  I  shall  deliver  you  to  Mr.  Hunston,  same 
as  if  you  were  a  bale  of  goods  consigned  to  him,  duty  paid. " 

"We  shall  see,"  replied  Jack. 

"  I  remember  at  Singapore,"  continued  Punchard,  "  you 
had  Harvey  with  you,  Professor  Mole,  and  a  blamed, 
artful  nigger,  named  Monday.  Are  they  with  you  now  ?  " 

"Fish,  and  find  out !  " 

"Thank  you.  That's  a  polite  answer.  Mr.  Hunston 
said  I  was  to  let  old  Mole  alone." 

"He  ought  to  be  grateful  for  that." 

"'Ain't  no  harm  in  the  drunken  old  fool,'  he  says; 
'  but  be  down  on  Harvey  like  a  beaver ;  and,  as  for  Mon- 
day,' he  says,  with  an  oath,  '  I  hate  him  !  Cut  his  liver 
out ! '  I  wish  he  had  nine  lives,  instead  of  one,  to  take. 
Never  mind.  Come  on." 

They  started  side  by  side  for  the  coast,  stopping  at  in- 
tervals to  pluck  some  grapes  or  bread  fruit. 

As  far  as  a  vegetarian  diet  went,  they  had  ample  facility 
for  gratifying  their  appetites. 

In  a  short  time  they  reached  the  stockade. 

It  was  the  hottest  part  of  the  afternoon. 

The  Chinese  were  lying  down  in  the  shade,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  their  leader. 

Hi  Lung  was  standing  on  the  strand,  looking  at  the 
wreck  of  his  junk,  the  Yanktze  Kiang,  which  was  rapidly 
going  to  pieces. 


244  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

His  aspect  was  sad  and  his  countenance  elongated. 

"  Hi !  "  exclaimed  Peter  Punchard.  "  How  goes  it,  old 
son  of  a  gun  ?  " 

The  Celestial  started,  looked  up,  and  stared  at  Punchard 
and  his  companion. 

"  Who  havee  metee  with  ?  "  he  demanded,  laconically. 

"The  great  English  Mandarin,  Jack  Harkaway  !  "  re- 
plied Peter.  "He  has  been  wrecked  here,  same  as  us, 
and  I  captured  him." 

"What !  the  Mandarin,  Hunston  givee  money  for?  " 

"  Exactly  the  same.  The  only  genuine  and  original 
article." 

"  Good  !  we  takee  care  of  him." 

Hi  Lung  took  up  a  stone  and  threw  it  at  one  of  his 
piratical  crew. 

It  struck  him  on  the  arm,  causing  him  to  wake  up  with 
a  jump. 

' '  Who  called  me  ? "  he  asked. 

"Chang,"  said  Hi  Lung,  "youwatchee  this  mannee 
all  day,  and  put  him  in  the  stockade  at  night.  Tie  your 
leg  to  him.  On  your  life,  be  answerable  for  him  !  " 

The  Chinese  walked  up  to  Jack  and  stood  close  to  him. 

"  It  is  not  necessary,"  remarked  Peter  Pun  chard.  "He 
has  given  me  his  promise  not  to  try  to  escape  ;  besides,  he 
has  no  arms,  and  he  can't  get  off  the  island  any  more 
than  we  can  at  the  present  time." 

"  I  givee  him  no  chancers.     He  shall  be  a  worker." 

"At  what?" 

"Since  you  have  been  gone,  I  have  seen  the  ghosts  of 
the  dead,"  replied  Hi  Lung. 

"  You  are  always  seeing  something." 

"  Be  a  listener.  I  know  that  we  have  all  to  die  here  of 
fever.  One  by  one  we  shall  go.  Harkaway  must  be  a 
digger  of  gravees." 

"What,  dig  our  graves?"  Punchard  said. 

"  Yes.  Underer  those  palm  trees  in  front,  he  shall  dig 
two  gravees  each  dayee.  There  are  twenty-two  of  us. 
When  we  die,  there  will  be  the  tombers  readee  for  us." 

This  was  a  strange  hallucination  on  the  part  of  the 
pirate  captain. 

But  he  had  got  it  firmly  fixed  in  his  mind. 

Peter  Punchard  would  gladly  have  saved  Jack  from  the 
hard,  manual  labor  to  which  he  was  condemned. 


*•-*• 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD. 


245 


But  he  knew  it  was  useless  to  argue  the  point  with  so 
bigoted  and  misanthrophical  a  being  as  Hi  Lung. 

Chang  touched  Jack  on  the  arm,  and  beckoned  him  to 
follow. 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  said  Punchard.  "Tain't  my  fault. 
I  told  you  he  was  a  rum  'un  to  deal  with.  Maybe  he  will 
change  his  mind  to-morrow." 

"Bother  digging  graves  !"  replied  Jack.  "I'm  not  a 
sexton." 

"  Don't  round  on  me ! " 

"Can't  you  reason  with  him  ?" 

"Might  as  well  talk  to  a  stone  wall." 

With  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  Jack  followed  Chang, 
who  stopped  at  the  stockade. 

Here  he  took  up  a  spade,  which  had  been  washed 
ashore  with  some  other  agricultural  implements. 

"This  for  you  to  usee,"  he  remarked. 

Shouldering  it,  Jack  went  to  the  adjacent  palm  grove, 
and  began  to  initiate  himself  in  the  novel,  but  rather  de- 
pressing occupation  of  gravedigging. 

"You  gottee  to  diggee  our  gravees,"  said  Chang, 
stolidly. 

The  ground  was  sandy,  and  the  work  easy. 

Jack  did  not  trouble  or  hurry  himself.  When  he  felt 
tired,  he  rested  for  a  spell,  and  knocked  down  cocoanuts 
off  the  palms  with  stones  and  sticks. 

With  these  he  refreshed  himself, 

it  was  a  strange  reverse  of  fortune. 

He  was  now  the  slave  of  Peter  Punchard  and  the 
Chinese  emissaries  of  Hunston. 

Certainly,  he  might  have  run  away,  and  hidden  himself 
with  his  friends. 

But  he  had  pledged  his  word  of  honour  not  to  do  so. 

This  was  enough  for  Harkaway. 

Rather  would  he  dig  graves  to  please  the  morbid  mis- 
givings of  an  opium-crazed  Chinaman,  than  allow  the 
slightest  blot  to  fall  on  his  escutcheon. 

He  had  two  glimmers  of  hope. 

One  was  that  his  ship  would  weather  the  storm,  and 
come  back  to  the  island. 

The  other  was,  that  Mole  and  Harvey  might  find  him 
out,  and  destroy  the  Chinese  vermin. 

It  was  long  odds  against  them,  however. 


246  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Twenty-two  to  only  two  ! 
If  they  succeeded  it  would  be  a  marvel. 
Yet  more  extraordinary  things  than  that  had  happened 
before  in  the  course  of  Jack  Harkaway's  experiences. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

HARVEY    AND    MOLE    ARE    ALARMED     AT    JACK'S     ABSENCE — THEY 
MAKE    A   DISCOVERY   AND   A   DETERMINATION. 

THE  time  passed  slowly  for  Harvey,  who  was  practically 
alone  in  the  cave. 

Mr.  Mole  could  not  be  called  a  companion,  because, 
overcome  with  the  fumes  of  liquor,  he  was  fast  asleep. 

The  shades  of  night  began  to  fall. 

As  Jack  did  not  appear,  Harvey  grew  very  uneasy. 

He  felt  sure  that  something  of  a  distressful  nature  had 
happened. 

Harkaway  had  either  been  killed  or  made  prisoner. 

Giving  him  an  unceremonious  kick  in  the  ribs,  and  a 
rough  shaking,  he  roused  the  slumbering  professor. 

Sitting  up,  the  latter  smiled,  as  if  with  a  sense  of 
supreme  satisfaction. 

"Lovely  sleep,  Richard,"  he  exclaimed,  yawning — 
"  beautiful  repose.  I  suppose  I  have  been  in  the  land  of 
dreams  for  some  hours  ? " 

"All  the  afternoon,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  Custom  of  the  country.  Can't  help  it  in  these  islands. 
Must  take  a  siesta.  Seems  a  long  time  between  drinks, 
though.  You  don't  appear  to  remember  that  I  have  such 
a  thing  as  a  mouth.  Be  a  man  !  Brace  up,  and  give  me 
some  refreshment.  I'm  gasping  like  an  expiring  frog 
when  there  is  no  water  in  his  pond." 

Harvey  handed  him  a  bottle  and  allowed  him  to  help 
himself,  the  calabash  of  water  being  by  his  side. 

"Ah,  that's  good,"  cried  Mole,  drawing  a  long  breath. 
"I  had  a  thirst  on  me  a  yard  long." 

"  Yours  is  the  thirst  spoken  of  in  the  Testament,  which 
is  never  quenched,  sir." 

"Don't  be  rude,  Harvey.  It  ill  becomes  you  to  mock 
a  grey-haired  old  man. " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  247 

"  I  can't  help  it.  You  are  such  a  caution  when  you 
begin." 

"I've  nothing  else  to  do.  Life  is  short.  Man  is  born 
to  trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  upward.  Let  us  be  happy, 
merry,  and  gay  while  we  can.  Sing  hey  !  sing  ho  ! 
tra-la-la  !  " 

"I  wonder  you  have  not  more  respect  for  yourself  than 
to  be  continually  under  the  influence  of  alcohol." 

"  Don't  be  personal." 

"  You  haven't  drawn  a  sober  breath,  really,  for  years," 
Harvey  went  on. 

Mr.  Mole  burst  out  laughing  at  this  hit. 

' '  Gad  !  "  he  said,  ' '  you're  right.  I  don't  believe  I  have. 
Funny,  isn't  it?" 

"I  call  it  disgusting — a  man  of  your  years,  too." 

"Bah  !  A  man  is  as  old  as  he  feels,  not  as  old  as  he 
looks.  I  feel  young  and  fit  as  a  three-year-old.  Drop 
your  personalities.  Harkaway  would  not  do  it.  By 
the  way,  where  is  the  ever  gay  and  festive  one — 
our  incomparable,  superlative,  dare-devil,  fight-'em-all 
Jack  ? " 

"That  is  what  I  want  to  speak  to  you  about,"  replied 
Harvey,  gravely. 

"  Is  there  anything  wrong  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"Something  most  infernally  wrong.  We  are  menaced 
by  a  great  danger.  Pull  yourself  together.  Get  up,  and 
let  us  see  what  is  best  to  be  done  under  the  circumstances." 

This  speech  alarmed  Mr.  Mole,  who  promptly  rose  to 
his  feet,  and  though  a  little  rocky,  looked  inquiringly  at 
Harvey. 

' '  Now,  Dick, "  said  Mole,  ' '  tell  me  all  about  it.  I  know 
something  unlucky  has  happened,  because  you  show  it  in 
your  face,  which,  pardon  me,  is  as  long  as  a  child  s 
farthing  kite." 

"  I  can't  help  it,  sir,"  answered  Harvey,  dolefully. 

"You  can  always  depend  on  me.  In  moments  of 
danger,  call  upon  your  Mole— your  faithful  servant,  Isaac 
Mole." 

"  If  I  could  rely  on  you " 

"  Indeed  you  can.  Never  have  I  failed  you.  In  mo- 
ments of  danger,  have  I  not  invariably  turned  up  trumps  ? 
The  enemy  have  fled  at  the  sight  of  me.  I  havescattered 
hosts." 


248  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"As  you  say  so,  I  suppose  it  is  all  right ;  but  I  must 
confess  I  do  not  remember  it." 

"Oh,  that's  all  bosh  !  Your  memory  is  defective.  I 
could  give  you  plenty  of  instances,  but  we  will  not  waste 
time." 

"  I  wish  to  goodness  you  would  not." 

"Enough  said.  Let  us  return  to  our  mutton — that  is, 
to  our  Jack.  Not  that  I  want  to  compare  him  to  a  sheep. 
It  is  simply  a  French  phrase,  which  means,  let  us  get  back 
to  our  subject." 

"  As  if  I  did  not  know  that  !  We  are  not  at  school 
now." 

"Excuse  me.  The  tutorial  idea  is  always  uppermost 
with  me.  I  have  imparted  instruction,  and  I  hope  sin- 
cerely you  have  benefited  by  it." 

"  We  shall  never  come  to  Jack,  if  you  go  on  like  this." 

"Why  does  he  not  come  to  us  ? " 

"That  is  the  question  that  perplexes  me,"  said  Harvey. 
"  While  you  were  asleep,  Jack  and  I  saw  a  Chinese  junk 
wrecked  close  by  here.  Out  of  a  crew  of  thirty  or  there- 
abouts, one-third  were  drowned ;  the  others  are  camped 
hard  by  the  shore.  Among  them  was  a  white  man,  whom 
I  am  sure  I  saw  at  Singapore." 

"Ah  !  this  is  serious." 

"If  I  am  correct,  this  fellow  is  associated  with  pirates, 
and  a  sworn  friend  of  Hunston." 

"Worse  and  worse." 

"Jack  would  go  out  to  see  who  the  white  man  was, 
four  hours  or  more  ago.  He  followed  him  inland." 

"Hem  !  "  said  Mole.  "It  strikes  me  very  forcibly  that 
Harkaway  has  fallen  a  victim  to  his  temerity,  and  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  heathen." 

"  So  I  think.     What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

A  dead  silence  ensued. 

The  professor,  in  spite  of  his  boasting,  had  no  inclina- 
tion to  attack  a  score  of  Chinamen. 

It  occurred  to  him  that  he  and  Harvey  stood  in  immi- 
nent danger  of  being  captured. 

They  would  have  to  go  out  of  the  cave  to  obtain  food 
and  water. 

"  It  is  a  very  difficult  fix  to  be  placed  in,"  he  remarked, 
at  length.  "I  should  advise  only  going  out  at  night-time, 
We  can  get  birds,  fish,  fruit,  and  water  in  the  dark. " 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  249 

"That  is  nothing,"  cried  Harvey.  "Fruit  and  water 
will  do  for  me.  I  am  thinking  about  Jack.  How  can  we 
rescue  him  ?  " 

"Only  by  killing  the  Chinese  and  the  white  man  you 
have  spoken  of.  If  Harkaway  does  not  come  back  before 
morning,  I  shall  conclude  that  he  is  captured." 

"  Suppose  that  means  death  by  slow  torture  ? " 

"  Don't  suggest  any  thing  so  dreadful,"  replied  Mole. 
"You  make  my  blood  run  cold." 

"  I  want  to  go  out  to-night  to  see  after  good  old  Jack. 
I  can't  rest." 

"No,  no.     Wait  till  the  morning,"  said  Mole. 

"  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  do  !  If  you  won't  come  with  me, 
I  will  go  to  the  Chinese  camp  by  myself !  "  said  Harvey, 
in  a  determined  tone. 

"  Well,  well,  if  you  insist,  in  your  headstrong  way " 

"I  do.     How  would  you  like  to  be  left  in  the  lurch ?" 

"All  right.  Let's  have  a  drink,  and  I'm  with  you,  my 
boy.  After  all,  you  can't  do  without  your  Mole.  Obliged 
to  fall  back  on  the  old  man,  who  is  the  only  one  in  your 
party  who  always  has  his  wits  about  him,  and  shows  that 
he  was  born  to  be  a  leader  of  men  and — ahem  ! — boys." 

The  day  had  been  close,  the  night  was  suffocatingly  hot 
in  the  cave. 

Not  a  breath  of  air  was  stirring. 

It  was  as  if  they  were  in  an  oven,  and  they  felt  it  a  de- 
cided relief  when  they  got  outside. 

The  stars  were  shining  brightly,  and  the  crescent  moon, 
in  its  second  quarter,  was  just  rising  above  the  sea. 

Harvey  and  Mole  were  armed  with  revolvers,  each  of 
which  contained  seven  chambers,  which  was  equivalent 
to  fourteen  lives,  if  their  aim  was  correct. 

They  proceeded  cautiously  along  the  shore,  until  they 
came  near  enough  to  the  stockade  to  reconnoitre. 

The  Chinese  had  saved  a  chest  of  opium  from  the  wreck 
of  the  junk,  and,  being  assured  by  Peter  Punchard  that 
there  was  no  danger  of  attack  from  men,  beasts,  or  snakes, 
they  were  lying  about  on  the  sand  in  a  comatose  condi- 
tion, having  smoked  themselves  into  a  happy  state  of 
oblivion. 

One  man  leant  against  a  palm-tree,  envying  his  com- 
rades, for  he  was  on  sentry  duty. 

Not  for  him  were  the  delights  of  opium,  which  would 


250  JACK  HARKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

be  perfect  bliss,  were  it  not  for  the  horrible  awakening 
and  the  terrible  reaction,  which  makes  a  man  a  wreck  of 
humanity  upon  the  sands  of  time. 

Hi  Lung  and  Peter  Punchard  had  retired  into  the  stock- 
ade, and  fallen  asleep  through  a  different  kind  of  debauch. 

Peter  had  made  salvage  of  a  case  of  rum,  and,  having 
got  some  water  from  the  spring,  they  indulged  in  the  old 
Jamaica,  until  they  forgot  all  their  cares  and  troubles. 

The  sentry  was  Chang,  who  had  been  told  off  by  H' 
Lung  to  guard  Jack  night  and  day. 

This  was  rather  a  difficult  thing  to  do,  as  Chang  wanted 
to  sleep  as  well  as  the  rest. 

Jack  had  dug  two  graves  ;  that  was  his  task  for  the  day  ; 
bread  fruit,  grapes,  and  nuts,  had  been  supplied  to  him  ; 
he  had  sat  down  with  his  back  against  a  palm-tree,  and 
dozed  off. 

It  occurred  to  Chang  that  he  would  like  to  take  a  rest  as 
well  as  the  others,  and,  as  Harvey  and  Mole  came  up  to  the 
camp,  he  slipped  a  piece  of  rope  round  his  legs  and  arms. 

"What  the  deuce  are  you  up  to,  now?  'cried  Jack. 
"  I've  given  my  parole  !  " 

"  Tyee  uppee.      Makee  safee,"  replied  Chang. 

"  Oh  !  It's  you,  is  it,  you  yellow-skinned  demon  !  I 
thought  I  was  somewhere  else." 

"  You  muchee  dreamee  !  " 

"  Go  on.  Get  your  hair  cut,  or  you'll  never  knock  'em 
this  side  of  the  equator,  you  ugly  spawn  of  creation  !  " 

"  Talkee,  talkee,  no  good.     Me  have  a  sleeper." 

Saying  this,  Chang  threw  himself  on  the  ground,  put  a 
piece  of  opium  in  his  mouth,  and  was  soon  in  the  land  of 
nod. 

Jack  looked  wearily  out  upon  the  sea,  which  that  night 
was  so  still  that  its  phosphorescent  bosom  only  heaved 
gently,  like  that  of  a  sleeping  beauty  whose  mind  is  full 
of  her  own  charms,  and  the  admiration  they  arouse  in  the 
minds  of  men. 

"  It  is  all  quiet,"  whispered  Harvey.  "  There  is  Jack. 
Do  you  see  ?  The  guard  has  bound  him.  I  told  you  that 
he  was  a  prisoner,  and  that  we  should  make  a  discovery." 

"  Do  you  think  we  can  get  to  speak  to  him?"  replied 
Mole. 

"I  mean  to.     Stay  where  you  are." 

"  No,  I  wish  to  come  with  you.     There  is  no  danger." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  251 

"  Ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  Harvey.  "  In  that  case,  of  course, 
you  will  come." 

"It  isn't  that,  Dick,"  answered  Mole.  "You  know 
me " 

"  For  a  boaster  !  " 

"  Not  at  all.  What  you  dare  do  so  dare  I  !  Come  on. 
Death  to  the  Chinese  !  Shall  I  give  my  war-whoop  ? " 

"If  you  do,  you  old  fool,  I'll  floor  you.  Hold  your 
row  !  " 

With  these  words,  Harvey  walked  up  to  the  spot  where 
Jack  was.  Mole  followed  at  a  short  distance  behind  him. 

Harvey  distinctly  saw  Jack  under  the  palm-tree  in  the 
moonlight,  and  immediately  touched  Mole  on  the  shoul- 
der. 

"Stay  where  you  are,"  he  exclaimed;  "we  have 
found  the  pirates'  camp,  for  I  am  persuaded  that  these 
fellows  are  the  vermin  who  sweep  the  seas  of  honest 
merchantmen.  Jack  is  close  to  us.  I  will  speak  to  him, 
and  see  what  is  best  to  be  done." 

"Be  careful,"  replied  Mole,  in  a  whisper. 

"  The  crew  of  the  junk  are  asleep." 

"  There  may  be  some  on  the  watch  without  your  being 
able  to  detect  their  presence." 

"  I  don't  think  so.  Maybe,  they  have  a  chest  of 
opium." 

"  They  are  as  artful  as  weasels.  For  heaven's  sake, 
don't  wake  them  up." 

"It  is  not  my  intention,"  said  Harvey. 

"  I  can  not  run  with  this  infernal  wooden  leg  of  mine, 
and  if  there  is  any  danger,  perhaps  I  had  better  make  a 
start  for  the  cave.  Someone  must  protect  the  stronghold, 
you  know,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

Harvey  could  not  refrain  from  smiling. 

This  speech  was  so  characteristic  of  the  professor. 

' '  Very  well, "  he  answered,  ' '  go  back  to  the  cave.  It 
is  the  best  place  for  you." 

' '  Not  that  I'm  afraid " 

"Oh  no.  We  know  all  about  that.  You  will  only 
do  more  harm  than  good  if  you  stay.  I  can  see 
that." 

"  If  you  want  to  annihilate  these  yellow-skinned 
heathen " 

Again  Harvey  interrupted  him. 


252  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Should  I  want  to  do  so  I  can  do  it  I  suppose  without 
your  help  !  Cut  along,"  he  answered. 

"  As  you  say  so,  I  will  go." 

"  Make  haste,  for  goodness'  sake  !  You  are  only  hin- 
dering me." 

"It's  the  wooden  leg.  Were  it  not  for  that,  I  could 
stand  my  ground  against  a  legion." 

"Will  you  be  off?" 

"  I'm  going.  Take  care  of  Jack.  He  is  a  fine  fellow. 
Bring  him  back  with  you." 

Saying  this,  Mr.  Mole  stumped  off  on  the  return  journey. 

Danger  was  rather  too  close  to  him  to  be  pleasant. 

He  wanted  to  keep  up  his  assumed  reputation  for  cour- 
age, and  that  was  all. 

When  Harvey  was  alone,  he  advanced  towards  Hark> 
away,  clutching  his  pistol,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  any 
emergency. 

Jack  was  half  asleep,  but  the  sound  of  someone  ap- 
proaching soon  roused  him. 

Looking  up,  he  was  surprised  in  the  extreme  to  see  his 
friend. 

"  Dick  !  "  he  exclaimed,  gladly. 

"  Hush  !  "  replied  Harvey.  "I  have  found  you  a  cap- 
tive, as  I  expected.  Let  me  cut  your  bonds.  No  one  is 
about.  Escape  at  once." 

Jack  shook  his  head  sadly. 

"  I  cannot  do  it,"  he  replied. 

"How  is  that?  Have  you  taken  leave  of  your 
senses  ? " 

"Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  old  boy,"  he  answered; 
"but  I  have  given  my  parole." 

' '  Is  your  word  to  be  kept  to  a  pack  of  pirates  and 
scoundrels  ? " 

"The  word  of  an  English  gentleman  must  always  be 
kept.  Don't  you  know  that,  Dick  ? " 

"You  are  right,"  said  Harvey.  "  Let  me  sit  by  your 
side,  and  tell  me  all  about  it." 

He  took  a  seat  close  to  Harkaway,  and  they  began  to 
converse  in  whispers. 

"There  is  not  much  to  tell,"  replied  Jack.  "I  have 
been  a  fool  !  The  white  man  I  followed  is  Peter  Pun- 
chard,  of  Singapore. " 

"Didn't  I  tell  you  so  ? "  Harvey  cried. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD,  253 

"  He  spun  a  long  yarn  about  his  being  Bill  Driver,  threw 
me  off  my  guard,  and  got  the  budge  on  me,  as  the  sailors 
say.  When  I  least  expected  it,  he  knocked  me  silly,  bound 
me,  and,  when  I  came  to,  made  me  a  prisoner  on  parole." 

"You  ought  not  to  be  tied  now,  if  you  are  on  your 
word  of  honour. " 

"True;  but  Punchard  does  not  know  of  it.  He  and 
Hi  Lung  are  drunk  on  some  rum  they  saved  from  the 
wreck. " 

"  Who  did  it  ?  " 

"The  man  appointed  to  watch  me.  That  fellow  lying 
there,  Chang  by  name.  He  was  tired,  so  he  fastened  my 
limbs  with  a  bit  of  ship's  cord,  and  is  enjoying  his  night's 
sleep." 

"I  wonder  Punchard  did  not  shoot  you.  What  is  to  be 
the  end  of  it  ?  "  remarked  Harvey. 

"You  have  not  heard  all." 

' '  I  can  quite  realise  that  fact.  There  is  a  secret  or 
a  mystery  somewhere." 

"You  are  right;  and  a  very  queer  secret  it  is,  too. 
Listen  :  This  Chinese,  Hi  Lung,  is  a  sort  of  pirate  king. 
He  knows  Hunston.  Punchard  is  a  particular  friend  of 
Hunston's.  The  latter  has  offered  a  large  reward  for  me 
alive,  not  dead,  mind  you." 

"That  is  kind  of  him." 

"  Knowing  that  I  was  on  board  ship  off  the  China  coast, 
Punchard  shipped  with  the  pirate,  Hi  Lung,  to  go  in 
search  of  me." 

"  Did  they  intend  to  fight  us  ? " 

"Rather.  They  had  two  small  cannons  on  board  the 
wnk,"  answered  Harkaway. 

"  What  cheek  !     I  like  their  style." 

"They  found  me  in  a  most  unexpected  manner,  but 
they  have  got  me,  and  I  can't  help  myself.  Punchard 
knew  me  directly  he  clapped  his  eyes  on  me." 

"Seeing  you  in  Singapore,  I  suppose?  " 

"No  doubt." 

"You  have  a  face  not  easily  forgotten,"  said  Harvey. 

"Really,  Dick,  you  flatter  me,"  laughed  Jack,  who  kept 
up  his  spirits  under  the  most  disheartening  circumstances^ 

"  Does  Punchard  know  you  have  friends  on  the  island  ? " 

"  The  estimable  Peter  guesses  it.  but  I  would  give  him 
no  information  whatever." 


254  JACK  UARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"If  he  catches  Mole  and  me,  what  is  to  be  our  fate?" 

"Oh,  I  did  not  tell  you  about  that !  " 

"Pray  do." 

"I'd  rather  not.  It  might  make  you  feel  uncomfort- 
able." 

"What  rot!  I'm  not  easily  funked,  and  I  shall  do  a 
bunk  back  to  the  cave  before  any  of  these  chaps  wake  up. 
Mole's  gone  ;  he  came  as  far  as  the  camp,  and  then  hooked 
it." 

"  Didn't  like  the  look  of  things,  eh  ? " 

"  He  put  his  anxiety  to  reach  the  crib  down  to  his  tim- 
ber-toes— wooden  legs,  you  know." 

"It  is  rough  on  him,"  said  Jack,  sympathisingly. 

"  So  it  is  ;  but  he  was  always  a  blower — he  never  will 
be  a  fighter." 

"That's  not  his  line  of  country. " 

"What  is  Punchard  going  to  do  with  us,  if  he  lands 
uc 

'Hunston  has  ordered  that  you  and  Mole,  or  any  of  the 
re^it  of  my  party,  are  not  to  receive  any  mercy.  Hi  Lung 
can  have  you,  and  work  his  wicked  will  on  you — skin 
you  alive,  boil  you,  or  otherwise  martyrise  you." 

' '  That's  cheerful. " 

"The  Chinese  have  a  way  of  putting  you  to  death, 
which  they  call  '  dying  by  inches.'" 

"What  does  it  consist  of?" 

"They  tie  you  naked  to  a  stick,  and  with  a  sharp  knife, 
or  a  razor,  with  an  extra-fine  edge  for  choice,  they  cut 
little  bits  out  of  you,  all  over  your  body,  until  you  bleed 
to  death." 

"Oh,  that's  nothing,"  said  Harvey,  chaffingly.  "I 
think  I  could  enjoy  that.  Don't  they  do  something  worse 
than  that  ?  " 

"They  beat  you  with  sticks,  until  you  are  one  big 
bruise,  and  as  pulpy  as  a  jellyfish. " 

' '  Any  thing  more  ?  " 

"Sometimes  they  make  you  swallow  a  dynamite  car- 
tridge, and  play  at  looking  for  fragments  of  your  body. 
The  man  who  finds  your  head,  weighs  in  first  and  wins 
the  game  ;  legs  come  second,  arms  third.  It  is  a  very 
nice  game  to  play  at — from  a  Chinese  point  of  view." 

Harvey  turned  pale. 

"Don't  jest,  Jack,"  he  exclaimed.      "These  wretches 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  255 

are  quite  capable  of  doing  what  you  have  depicted  in 
fun." 

"  We  may  as  well  \augh  as  cry,"  Harkaway  replied. 

'•'  Your  life  is  safe,  unless  the  pirates  get  off  the  island 
and  take  you  to  Hunston  ;  then ' 

Harvey  paused  abruptly. 

"  Go  on,"  said  Jack. 

"Then,"  resumed  Harvey,  "heaven  help  you!  " 

"I  fervently  hope  so,"  answered  Jack,  sincerely.  "  ^ut 
I  am  in  no  particular  fear  of  Mr.  Hunston.  I  have  licked 
him  before,  and  I  have  a  firm  belief  that  I  shall  knock 
him  again." 

Harvey  echoed  that  aspiration,  and  there  was  a  pause 
in  their  conversation.  At  length,  Jack  said — 

"  I've  been  thinking." 

"There  is  generally  something  in  that  cocoanut  of 
yours,"  replied  Harvey.  "Let  me  have  it." 

"  I  don't  want  these  Chinamen  on  this  island;  we've 
no  room  for  them." 

"  No  more  do  I  ;  but  how  are  we  going  to  get  rid  of 
them  ?  If  we  had  a  little  vermin-destroying  powder,  we 
might  strew  it  about  on  slices  of  pineapple. " 

"You  have  something  better  than  that." 

"I  should  like  to  know  what?  " 

"Gunpowder.  Come  in  the  night  and  shoot  them. 
Everything  is  fair  in  war.  You  want  to  save  your  skin, 
don't  you  ? " 

' '  Rather, "  replied  Harvey  ;  ' '  but  if  I  were  to  fire  at  that 
fellow  Chang,  I  should  rouse  the  whole  camp — they  can 
run  like  deer.  Where  should  I  be  ?  " 

"That  is  true.     You  can  use  a  knife,  though." 

"Doesn't  that  savour  somewhat  of  the  midnight  assas- 
sin ? " 

"Oh,  if  we  are  to  be  squeamish,"  cried  Jack,  "and 
stand  upon  ceremony  with  these  Mongolians,  we  may  as 
well  say  our  prayers  and  prepare  for  death." 

"I  am  wrong  and  you  are  right,"  answered  Harvey. 
"I'll  kill  them  by  twos  and  threes,  night  after  night" 

' '  They  have  made  me  dig  graves.  Two  are  ready  to  be 
filled." 

"What  is  that  for?" 

"Hi  Lung  has  an  idea  that  some  pestilence  is  going  to 
carry  t^m  off,  and  he  is  preparing." 


256  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Very  well — we  shall  see,"  said  Harvey.  "Chang  is 
there — another  is  a  few  yards  off ;  will  those  two  do  to 
begin  with  ?  " 

"Excellently  well.  It  is  a  terrible  task  you  have  un- 
dertaken, though,  Dick;  be  careful." 

"I'll  keep  my  eyes,  and  my  ears  too,  open.  They 
shall  die  gradually,  and  shall  not  see  the  hand  that 
strikes  them." 

"You  will  have  to  be  about  night  after  night,  so  you 
had  best  sleep  in  the  daytime." 

"  Perhaps  they  will  do  the  same  thing.  If  so,  I  shall 
perform  my  work  in  the  day  instead  of  the  night.  It  is 
very  likely  that  when  they  find  themselves  being  killed 
off,  they  will  watch." 

"Don't  get  caught." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it !  I'd  kill  the  lot  in  one  night,  if  it 
were  not  a  little  too  risky." 

"  When  will  you  start?  " 

"At  once,"  replied  Harvey,  resolutely.  "I  am  no 
coward,  as  you  know  ;  and  if  a  thing  has  to  be  done, 
however  risky  it  may  be,  I  don't  care  to  brood  over  it." 

"That's  right.  Take  the  bull  by  the  horns,  as  the  say- 
ing is.  If  they  ask  me  if  I  have  seen  any  thing,  I'll  swear 
I  saw  a  spirit,  brandishing  a  knife,  and  describe  him  as 
something  between  an  Asiatic  ogre  and  a  Cornish  giant, 
with  a  dash  of  the  mediaeval  fiend  in  him,  horns,  tail,  and 
pitchfork." 

"They  are  superstitious,"  remarked  Harvey,  "  and  will 
readily  credit  anything  horrible,  ugly,  and  abnormal. 
Their  ideal  of  the  beautiful  is  something  hideous  and 
ghastly." 

"I  know  it.     One  word  more  before  you  go." 

"Mention  it." 

"Keep  Mole  quiet.  If  the  old  donkey  comes  fooling 
about  here,  he  will  give  the  whole  thing  away,"  said 
Jack. 

"  I  will  exercise  such  authority  as  I  have  over  him," 
replied  Harvey. 

"  Good-night,  Dick.     Thank  you  for  coming  after  me." 

"  As  if  I  would  leave  you  !  Where  is  Hunston's  friend, 
Punchard  ? " 

"In  that  bamboo  place  they  call  the  stockade.  You'll 
have  to  be  careful  if  you  go  in  there." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  257 

"  I  sha'n't  try  a  rush  at  him  to-night.  There  is  plenty 
of  time.  Good-night,  Jack,  and  heaven  bless  and  keep 
you  !  " 

"The  same  to  you,  Dick.     Wish  you  luck." 
i  They    shook  hands,    and   Harvey    glided   noiselessly 
taway, 

Ordinarily,  he  had  a  very  good-tempered  face,  but  as 
he  moved  off  his  expression  changed. 

It  showed  how  the  passions  can  work  upon  a  man. 

His  countenance  clouded,  it  became  hard,  almost  de- 
moniacal, as  he  clenched  his  teeth  together,  and  grasped 
his  knife  firmly. 

He  had  no  desire  to  take  the  life  of  any  of  these  men, 
but,  under  the  circumstances,  it  was  a  paramount  neces- 
sity. 

They  would  show  him  no  mercy. 

At  any  moment,  when  they  caught  him,  they  would 
put  him  to  a  cruel  death. 

By  doing  what  he  was  about  to  do,  he  would  probably 
save  himself,  Mr.  Mole,  and  Jack. 

This  was  worth  doing  something  for. 

Chang  slept  as  only  a  Chinaman  can  sleep  when  he  has 
had  his  dose  of  opium. 

There  was  a  placid,  childlike  smile  upon  his  parted  lips, 
which  showed  his  yellow  teeth,  some  of  which  resembled 
fangs. 

Bending  over  him,  Harvey  plunged  his  knife  into  his 
heart. 

He  started,  there  was  a  gurgling  sound  in  his  throat, 
his  limbs  twitched  convulsively,  but  that  was  all. 

No  cry  escaped  him. 

Withdrawing  the  knife,  Dick  glided  to  a  second  Chinese 
and  treated  him  in  the  same  manner. 

Deeming  this  enough  for  one  night,  he  retired,  and 
made  his  way  back  to  the  cave. 

Jack  had  witnessed  the  deeds,  but  no  thrill  of  horror 
ran  through  him,  for  he  could  feel  no  pity  for  the  blood- 
thirsty pirates. 

They  were  truly  enemies  of  the  human  race. 

For  their  crimes  they  ought  to  have  been  hung  in  chains 
long  ago. 

It  was  with  difficulty,  however,  that  he  composed  him* 
self  to  slumber. 
17 


258  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Tired  as  he  was,  sleep  refused  to  visit  his  eyelids. 

At  last  he  went  off,  being  troubled  with  dreadful 
dreams. 

He  was  roused  by  loud  cries. 

The  Chinese  were  awake,  and  it  had  not  taken  them 
long  to  discover  the  deaths  of  their  companions. 

Peter  Punchard  and  Hi  Lung  were  quickly  on  the 
scene. 

First  they  looked  at  Chang,  then  at  his  companion  in 
misfortune,  who  was  named  Foochoo. 

"  Two  men  stabbee,"  exclaimed  the  pirate  chief,  look- 
ing first  at  one,  then  at  the  other. 

"That's  a  queer  start,"  said  Punchard. 

"  It  must  be  the  foreign  devil." 

"  I  don't  see  that ;  he  had  no  weapon." 

"  Lettee  us  askee  him.  If  he  killee  our  men,  we  chop- 
pee  him  head  off." 

They  walked  over  to  Harkaway. 

He  saw  them  coming,  and  was  prepared  what  to  say. 

"Me  hearee  no  makee  bobbery  in  the  nightee,"  mut- 
tered Hi  Lung,  shaking  his  head.  ' '  It  very  strange 
dammee  business." 

"I'm  glad  you've  come,  Punchard,"  exclaimed  Jack, 
eagerly.  "  Has  any  thing  happened  ?  " 

' '  Yes,  curse  it !  Two  of  our  chaps  have  been  skewered 
in  their  sleep,"  was  the  reply. 

"Never! " 

"  It's  a  fact.     Chang  and  Foochoo." 

"Well,  I  am  not  altogether  surprised.  Chang  wanted 
to  have  a  doss,  so,  contrary  to  orders,  he  bound  me,  as 
you  see.  By  the  way,  I  will  thank  you  to  let  me  loose." 

"Certainly." 

"  It  is  a  breach  of  our  agreement,  you  know." 

"  I  admit  that,"  Peter  Punchard  replied. 

He  cut  the  cords,  and  Harkaway  rose,  glad  to  stretch 
his  limbs  once  more. 

"Before  I  went  to  sleep,"  continued  Jack,  "I  saw  a 
wild-looking  man  come,  as  it  appeared,  out  of  the  sea. 
Flames  seemed  to  come  out  of  his  mouth  and  nostrils  ; 
he  brandished  a  knife  in  his  hand,  and  his  eyes  were  like 
coals  of  fire,  while  his  face  was  that  of  an  eagle.  Never 
before  did  I  see  such  a  horrible  creature.  Ke  frightened 
me  so  that  I  fainted." 


ADVENTURES  ROUND   THE   WORLD. 

Hi  Lung  began  to  tremble. 

"What  did  I  tellee  ?  "  he  said.  "Bad  luckee  is  a  fol- 
lower of  us ;  we  all  die.  Yesterday  I  have  diggee  two 
graves.  Lookee  !  Two  bodies  ready  for  the  graves. " 

"  What  do  you  suppose  it  is  ?  "  asked  Punchard. 

"The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea." 

"  Who  is  he  when  he  is  at  home  ?  " 

"Vellee  greatee  spirit — much  power.  We  sheddee 
much  bloodee  on  the  sea,  the  evil  spirit  comee  to  us  and 
bringee  vengeance." 

"  I'll  keep  a  jolly  good  watch  to-night,"  said  Punchard. 
44  If  he  comes  again,  I'll  give  him  toko." 

4 '  No  goodee, "  answered  the  pirate,  with  a  melancholy 
sigh. 

"  I  shall  sit  up  anyhow." 

"  Diggee  more  graves  to-day.     All  gottee  die  soon." 

4 '  You're  a  cheerful  cuss.  There  is  some  humbug  about 
this." 

Hi  Lung  did  not  care  to  argue  the  point.  He  had  his 
idea,  and  Punchard  had  his. 

The  pirate  walked  away,  and  ordered  the  bodies  to  be 
put  in  the  graves. 

This  was  done.  Afterwards  tea  was  made,  and  the 
Chinese  squatted  on  their  hams  while  they  had  break- 
fast. 

Punchard  and  Jack  remained  together. 

"I  say,  Mr.  Harkaway,  you're  playing  it  low  down  on 
this  community,"  said  Peter. 

"What  do  you  mean  ? ''  asked  Jack. 

4 'You're  ari   artful  card.     What  you  don't  know  isn't 
worth   knowing.     I   guess   you've  ^forgotten   years   ago 
more  than  most  men  know  at  fifty." 
'  Indeed  !  you  flatter  me." 

How  about  the  spirit  that  came  out  of  the  sea  ?  " 
It  was  something  dreadful  to  look  at." 
'  The  veritable  original  and  only  true  bogey  man  ?  " 
4  If  you  like  to  think  so." 

'Come,    come,    that    won't    wash,"    said    Punchard. 
*4  How  did  you  do  it  ?     I  won't  blab,  if  you " 

"When  I  was  bound,  how  could  I  injure  anyone?" 
Harkaway  interrupted. 

"  Of  course  not.  Your  pals  did  it.  You  admitted  you 
had  some  on  the  island.  I'll  have  a  search  this  blessed 


360  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

day,  and  if  I  find  them,  mark  me,  we'll  have  blood  for 
blood." 

"Do  your  worst,"  replied  Jack. 

"  I  fully  intend  to  do  so." 

Saying  this,  Punchard  turned  on  his  heel  and  joined 
his  allies  at  breakfast. 

When  the  Celestials  had  refreshed  themselves,  they 
condescended  to  allow  Jack  to  sit  down  and  recruit  his 
energies  on  tea  and  biscuit,  which  did  not  taste  the  nicer 
for  being  soaked  in  salt  water. 

When  he  had  finished,  he  was  set  to  work  at  grave- 
digging  again. 

Punchard  went  out. 

His  purpose  was  to  find  the  hiding-place  of  Jack's 
friends. 

Towards  the  evening  he  returned  dispirited,  having 
been  unable  to  discover  any  trace  of  Mole  and  Harvey. 

Jack  awaited  the  coming  of  night  with  the  utmost 
anxiety. 

Though  fatigued,  Peter  Punchard  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  sitting  up  to  watch  fcr  the  person  who  had  killed 
Chang  and  Foochoo. 

Hi  Lung  and  the  others  indulged  in  their  usual  opium 
debauch  and  went  to  sleep,  some  in  the  stockade,  others 
on  the  sandy  ground. 


CHAPTER   XL. 

PETER    PUNCHARD    AND     HARVEY   FYGHT JACK     ESCAPES THE 

CAVE    IS    DISCOVERED A    SIEGE    AND    A    RESCUE. 

JACK  was  not  bound  on  this  occasion,  and  as  the  luxury 
of  a  bed  was  a  thing  unknown,  he  selected  a  shady  spot, 
where  he  lay  down. 

It  was  necessary  to  be  careful  about  shade  at  night- 
time when  sleeping  in  the  open  air. 

The  moonlight  is  very  pernicious  to  the  eyes. 

There  is  a  complaint  well  known  in  the  tropics  as  moon 
blindness,  produced  by  the  lunar  beams. 

This  sometimes  renders  a  man  stone  blind  for  weeks, 
and  has  been  known  to  result  in  permanent  injury  to  the 
sight. 


ADVENTURES  AEOUND  THE  WORLD.  261 

Gladly  would  he  have  recruited  exhausted  nature  by 
going  to  sleep,  but  the  thought  of  Harvey  prevented 
him. 

He  expected  a  terrible  scene  that  night. 

Punchard  came  over  to  where  he  was  lying,  having  a 
pistol  in  one  hand  and  a  knife  in  the  other. 

"How  many  graves  have  you  dug  to-day?"  he 
asked. 

"Three,"  replied  Jack. 

"You  expect  your  friend  to  come  to-night  and  fill 
them.  Ha,  ha  !  Perhaps  he  will  occupy  one  !  " 

"  Or  you,"  said  Jack  ;   "which  will  it  be  ?  " 

"  It  will  be  a  match  ;  and  I  am  willing  to  be  bet  two 
to  one  on  myself." 

"Done.  I'll  take  you,  but  I  hope  you  will  never  pay 
me." 

"That  means  that  you  wish  me  dead,  for  of  course  if 
I  lose  the  bet,  I  die,  and  dead  men  can't  pay  debts,  and 
there  being  no  estate  to  realise  on,  you'll  be  the  loser." 

"You  don't  suppose  I  have  any  particular  affection  for 
you  ?  I  assure  you  if  you  were  to  kick  out  this  minute  I 
should  not  dream  of  going  into  mourning  for  you." 

"  That's  ungrateful.  I  might  kill  you  at  any  moment. 
Yesterday  I  could  have  shot  you." 

"  Don't  assume  a  virtue  when  you  have  it  not,"  said 
Jack.  "It  would  not  pay  you  to  kill  me  ;  and  fellows 
like  you  live  for  sordid  gain.  Hunston's  offered  reward 
is  more  to  your  taste  than  knocking  me  on  the  head 
would  be. " 

"I  won't  say  that  you  are  not  right.  Money  is  my 
mark  !  " 

Jack  made  no  answer. 

He  despised  Punchard  so  much  that  he  did  not  care  to 
talk  to  him. 

A  silence  ensued  which  lasted  some  time. 

It  was  only  broken  by  the  noise  made  by  the  countless 
insects  that  are  active  during  the  night-time. 

Suddenly,  Punchard,  who  had  placed  his  back  against 
a  tree  and  closed  his  eyes,  heard  a  subdued  cry. 

He  started  to  his  feet  in  a  moment. 

So  did  Harkaway,  who  had  also  heard  the  noise. 

They  looked  in  the  direction  from  whence  it  came,  and 
saw  a  man  standing  over  a  Chinaman. 


262  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

There  was  a  knife  dripping  with  blood  in  his  hand. 

Jack  recognised  Harvey,  but  Punchard  saw  only  the 
hidden  foe,  who  had  attacked  them  the  night  before. 
The  mysterious  slayer  of  his  companions  was  in  front  of 
him. 

He  raised  his  pistol  to  fire. 

Harvey  saw  the  movement,  and  took  refuge  behind  a 
tree. 

It  was  easy  enough  to  conceal  himself,  as  the  trees 
grew  closely  together. 

And  he  could  dart  from  one  to  another  without  being 
detected. 

Punchard  rubbed  his  eyes. 

"  Where  the  deuce  has  he  gone  ?"  he  exclaimed.  "I 
saw  him  a  second  ago,  but  I  can't  now." 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  it  was  a  spirit? "  replied  Jack. 

•'That  be  blowed  for  a  yarn  !  Haul  in  your  slack. 
That  was  no  ghost." 

"  All  right.  Call  me  names — abuse  me,  and  say  that  I 
am  an  economist  of  the  truth." 

"If  that  means  a  liar,  you're  all  that." 

"Think  so?" 

"I'll  swear  to  it.  That  man's  your  pal,  and  he  wants 
to  wipe  us  out  by  degrees — twos  and  threes  at  a 
time." 

"Stick  to  it.  If  you  really  think  he  is  flesh  and  blood 
seek  him,  put  him  to  the  test,  and  fight  him.  Couldn't 
you  see  he  is  a  shadowy  ghost — nothing  but  vapour?  " 

"That's  too  thin.  Let  me  get  hold  of  him,"  said  Pun- 
chard. 

The  ghost  theory  would  not  go  down  with  him  at 
all. 

It  mattered  very  little  to  Harkaway  whether  it  did  or 
not. 

All  he  wanted  was  to  occupy  the  sailor's  attention  for  a 
time. 

"Yes,"  added  Punchard,  "all  I  want  is  to  come  face 
to  face  with  this  pretended  spirit  of  yours. " 

At  that  moment  his  quick  ear  detected  the  sound  of  a 
footstep  behind  him. 

He  was  on  the  alert  immediately. 

Turning  round  briskly,  he  was  confronted  with  Harvey, 
who  had  crept  round  the  grove  of  trees. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND  THE  WORLD.  263 

The  sound  of  a  pistol  shot  would  have  roused  the  entire 
camp. 

This  contingency  Harvey  wished  to  avoid. 

When  he  had  stabbed  the  Chinaman,  he  saw  Punchard 
by  Jack's  side,  and  disappeared  behind  the  trees,  so  as  to 
take  him  in  the  rear. 

Before  Peter  Punchard  could  discharge  his  pistol,  Har- 
vey struck  him  with  his  knife  in  the  right  shoulder. 

The  revolver  fell  from  his  disabled  hand,  the  arm  being 
rendered  powerless. 

But  the  sailor  was  not  yet  beaten.  In  his  left  hand  he 
held  his  knife,  which  was  a  murderous-looking  article, 
known  among  the  Chinese  and  Malays  as  a  kreese. 

With  the  utmost  frenzy  he  aimed  a  blow  at  Harvey. 

The  latter  only  succeeded  in  avoiding  it  by  half  an 
inch. 

For  a  few  moments,  Punchard  slashed  wildly  at  his 
opponent. 

He  gained  no  advantage,  however. 

Harvey  foiled  his  efforts  and  parried  every  thrust,  with 
the  skill  of  a  practical  swordsman. 

At  last  he  saw  his  opportunity. 

Throwing  himself  upon  Punchard,  he  drove  his  weapon 
into  his  chest,  up  to  the  hilt. 

The  sailor  fell  to  the  earth  with  a  hoarse  cry,  bathed  in 
blood. 

During  this  closely  contested  and  highly  exciting  fight, 
Harkaway  had  not  moved. 

As  he  had  given  his  parole,  he  did  not  think  it  fair  even 
to  help  his  old  friend. 

But  now  that  Punchard,  to  whom  he  had  given  his  pa- 
role, was  either  dead  or  dying,  he  looked  upon  the  matter 
in  a  different  light. 

To  Hi  Lung  and  the  Chinese  he  had  given  no  pledge. 

It  was  consistent  with  the  preservation  of  his  honour 
for  him  to  escape,  if  he  could.  > 

"  Is  he  done  for,  Dick?  "  he  asked,  in  a  voice  husky 
with  suppressed  emotion. 

"He's  a  settled  member,  but  I'll  make  sure  of  him," 
replied  Harvey. 

Another  blow  with  the  knife  rendered  any  doubt  upon 
the  matter  impossible. 

Peter  Punchard  breathed  his  last 


2  64  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Run,  Jack!  Come  with  me,"  cried  Harvey.  "You 
are  under  no  obligation  to  anyone  now.  You  may  carry 
chivalry  too  far.  These  pirates  will  show  you  no 
mercy." 

"I'm  with  you, "  answered  Jack.  "Step  out  lively! 
Put  your  best  leg-  forward  !  Get  under  weigh. " 

Without  any  further  delay,  they  quitted  the  pirate  camp 
at  a  rapid  pace. 

Neither  of  them  had  the  least  idea  that  they  were 
watched. 

Such,  however,  was  the  case. 

Hi  Lung  was  wide-awake,  and  had  been  so  all  the 
time  the  fight  was  going  on. 

Being,  as  we  have  said,  a  superstitious  coward,  he  did 
not  dare  to  interfere. 

He  fancied  he  might  incur  the  special  resentment  of  the 
spirit. 

But  when  he  saw  that  the  supposed  ghost  ran  away 
with  Jack,  his  eyes  were  opened. 

Without  rousing  any  of  his  fellows,  he  followed  in  pur- 
suit of  the  fugitives. 

"No  ghostee,"  he  muttered,  "me  foolee  !  Ha,  ha! 
To-morrow  me  foolee,  too  !  Waitee  bittee.  Findee  their 
camp.  Me  clever  allee  samee  as  Englishman." 

When  they  had  gone  half  way  towards  the  cave  Jack 
and  Harvey  stopped  running. 

They  fancied  that  they  were  safe  from  pursuit. 

Taking  it  easy,  they  walked  to  the  cave. 

When  they  entered  it  they  found  Mr.  Mole  wrapped  in 
a  vinous  slumber. 

"I  reckon  we  will  follow  his  example,"  said  Jack, 
pointing  to  the  professor. 

"Yes.  We  are  safe  now,  thank  heaven,"  replied 
Harvey. 

They  had  a  drink  of  the  grape  wine,  and  stretched  them- 
selves out  on  the  floor. 

Little  did  they  dream  that  the  keen  almond-shaped 
eyes  of  the  Chinaman,  Hi  Lung,  were  upon  them. 

Had  they  done  so,  they  would  not  have  been  so 
happy. 

The  Chinaman  was  satisfied  with  what  he  had  dis- 
covered, and  returned  to  the  stockade  to  organize  an  at- 
tack upon  the  cave  in  the  morning. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND   THE  W^RLD.  265 

The  night  passed  without  any  event  of  importance 
occurring. 

As  soon  as  the  day  dawned  Jack  woke  up,  and  went 
outside  the  cave. 

He  wanted  to  look  in  the  direction  of  the  pirates'  camp 
to  see  if  they  were  moving. 

Scarcely  had  he  appeared,  than  he  met  with  a  hot 
reception. 

A  couple  of  bullets  whistled  past  his  head. 

Alarmed  at  this,  he  retreated  into  the  cave  and  hastily 
roused  Harvey  and  Mole. 

"Get  up,  for  heaven's  sake  !  "  he  cried.  "The  yellow 
fiends  have  found  us  out." 

' '  Shoot  them  down  !  "  said  Harvey.  "  This  cave  is  not 
an  easy  place  to  storm." 

"  You  back,  Harkaway  !  The  cave  attacked!  What 
does  all  this  mean?"  asked  Mole. 

"  Fight  for  your  life  !  Don't  ask  questions  now.  The 
Johnnies  are  five  to  one  against  us  !  "  replied  Jack. 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  as  usual,"  said  Mole. 

They  snatched  up  their  weapons,  and  went  to  the  mouth 
of  the  cave. 

The  Chinese  were  approaching  rapidly,  in  loose  for- 
mation, and  without  seeking  any  shelter  or  cover  for 
themselves. 

Jack,  Harvey,  and  Mole  fired  at  them,  keeping  out  of 
sight  as  well  as  they  could. 

The  bullets  were  returned,  but  without  doing  any 
damage,  as  the  English  knelt  down  behind  the  rocks. 

For  some  time  the  firing  continued  on  both  sides. 

The  Chinese  suffered  severely,  and  in  half-an-hour  had 
lost  half  of  their  number. 

This  discouraged  them. 

They  retired  to  a  distance,  where  they  were  out  of 
range. 

But  the  siege  was  not  over. 

Glad  of  a  respite,  Jack  left  Mole  as  a  sentry,  and,  with 
Harvey,  partook  of  some  food. 

They  stood  greatly  in  need  of  it. 

It  was  now  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly,  and  the  sea  was  rough 
with  a  strong  breeze  blowing  inland. 

Jack  looked  out  of  the  window  seaward. 


266  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

After  gazing  at  the  restless  waves  for  a  minute  or  more, 
he  was  surprised  to  see  a  ship,  with  all  sail  set,  round  the 
point  near  the  pirates'  camp. 

When  it  was  in  the  bay,  sail  was  taken  in,  and  the 
sailors  dropped  anchor. 

"  Dick,''  cried  Harkaway,   "  here's  a  ship  !  " 

' '  Thank  heaven  for  that  !  What  are  her  colours  ?  "  re- 
plied Harvey. 

•'English.      If  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  is  our  own  vessel." 

"Ours  !     Oh,  Jack,  if  you  should  be  right !  " 

"I  am.  I  can  see  Emily  and  Hilda  in  the  bows,  and 
Pike  and  the  rest  of  them.  She  didn't  founder  in  the  storm, 
after  all.  Hurrah  !  " 

;"  Hurrah!"  echoed  Dick.     "Look!   they  are  waving 
handkerchiefs. " 

"I'd  return  that,  only  I  haven't  got  a  handkerchief. 
Lend  me  your  shirt." 

In  an  instant  Harvey  stripped  off  his  shirt. 

He  gave  it  to  Harkaway,  who  waved  it  out  of  tht 
window. 

The  signal  was  seen. 

Half-a-dozen  pistols  were  discharged  from  the  vessel  ir. 
recognition. 

This  roused  the  Chinese. 

Hi  Lung  and  his  pirates  looked  on  the  sea,  and  behol  cit 
ing  the  ship,  became  much  alarmed. 

They  held  a  hurried  consultation. 

Then  they  ran  inland,  as  fast  as  their  legs  wou  It- 
carry  them. 

Mole  came  in. 

"The  enemy's  skeddadled,"  he  said.  "They  saw  me 
at  the  mouth  of  the  cave  and  bolted.  I  never  had  any 
opinion  of  a  race  that  don't  wear  heels  to  their  boots." 

"  You  did  not  frighten  them,"  replied  Jack. 

"What  did  it,  then?  " 

"I  will  tell  you." 

"Certainly;  explain  the  stampede." 

"Our  ship  has  come  back.  Let  us  go  down  to  tru 
beach,  and  meet  our  friends." 

"  With  pleasure.  What  a  relief!  Let  me — er — have  - 
little  refreshment  first." 

They  quitted  the  cave,  and  hastened  to  the  shore. 

A  boat  had  put  off. 


ADVENTURES  ROUND   THE   WORLD.  267 

Soon  they  were  shaking  hands  all  round  with  those* 
nearest  and  dearest  to  them. 

Explanations  followed. 

The  vessel  had  been  swept  many  miles  out  to  sea,  and 
was  badly  injured  by  the  tidal  wave. 

Damages  had  been  gradually  repaired,  and  the  vessel 
had  returned  to  the  island. 

Jack,  Harvey,  and  Mole  went  on  board. 

Before  sundown  the  ship  weighed  anchor. 

Nothing  was  seen  or  heard  of  Hi  Lung  or  his  pirates, 
nor  did  anybody  know  what  became  of  them. 


Within  four  -  and  -  twenty  hours  more  they  disem- 
barked, and  the  whole  party  started  shortly  for  Mr.  Mole's 
plantation. 

No  one  could  have  recognised  Mr.  Mole,  he  had  so  dis- 
guised himself  to  avoid  the  dreaded  Brick. 

And  now  they  were  fairly  landed  in  China.  But,  alas  ! 
without  young  Jack. 

Where  was  he  ? 

It  had  doubtless  gone  hard  with  him  this  time,  for  he 
was  in  the  hands  of  cruel  pirates. 

His  friends  and  family  secretly  mourned  him  as  dead, 
although  they  did  not  admit  to  each  other  their  fatal  con« 
Dictions. 

THE  END. 


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back.  Clear,  large  type  is  used  on 
superior  super-finish  paper.  The 
elaborate  designs  are  stamped  up- 
on binder's  English  linen  cloth,  with  side  and  back  titles 
in  large  letterings.  Each  book  in  printed  wrapper. 


1  Adrift  in  New  York  26 

2  Andy  Gordon  27 

3  Andy  Grant's  Pluck  28 

4  Bob  Burton  29 

5  Bound  to  Rise  30 

6  Brave  and  Bold  31 

7  Cash  Boy,  The  32 

8  Chester  Rand  33 

9  Cousin's  Conspiracy,  A  34 

10  Do  and  Dare  35 

11  Driven  From  Home  36 

12  Erie  Train  Boy  37 

13  Facing  the  World  38 

14  Five  Hundred  Dollars  39 

15  Frank's  Campaign  40 

16  Grit;  The  Young  Boatman         41 

17  Herbert  Carter's  Legacy  42 

18  Hector's  Inheritance  43 

19  Helping  Himself  44 

20  In  a  New  World  45 

21  Jack's  Ward  46 

22  Jed,  the  Poor  House  Boy         47 

23  Joe's  Luck  48 

24  Julius,  the  Street  Boy  49 

25  Luke  Walton  50 


Making  His  Way 

Mark  Mason's  Victory 

Only  an  Irish  Boy 

Paul,  the  Peddler 

Phil,  the  Fiddler 

Ralph  Raymond's  Heir 

Risen  from  the  Ranks 

Sam's  Chance 

Shifting  for  Himself 

Sink  or  Swim 

Slow  and  Sure 

Store  Boy,  The 

Strive  and  Succeed 

Strong  and  Steady 

Struggling  Upward 

Tin  Box,  The 

Tom,  the  Boot-Black 

Tony,  the  Tramp 

Try  and  Trust 

Wait  and  Hope 

W.  Sherwood  s  Probation 

Young  Acrobat 

Young  Adventurer,  The 

Young  Outlaw 

Young  Salesman 


For  Sale  by  all  Book   and  Newsdealers,  or  will  be  sent  to  any  address 

in  the  U..  S..  Canada  or  Mexico,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price 

oDc  each,  in  currency,  money  order  or  stamps. 

MH     n^,   ^L,,    .   t    f*    W-429  Dearborn  Sf., 
.  i\.  UOnonue  &  CO.         CHICAGO. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFripisJiA 


THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


1  iilfii  Rf  'BAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

"A    000481458    s 


PZ7 
H37jb 


